Darline Graham Wins South Carolina GOP Senate Runoff with Trump Backing
Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, won the South Carolina Republican Senate primary runoff on August 25, 2026, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman 52% to 48%. Appointed after Lindsey Graham’s sudden death from an aortic tear, Graham faced criticism for admitting she was uninformed on national security but secured President Trump’s endorsement and nearly $1 million in MAGA Inc. support. She will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November for a full six-year term in the safely Republican seat.
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Sen. Darline Graham of South Carolina, with Trump’s backing, wins GOP nomination to run for a full term
Senator Darline Graham of South Carolina, with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, has won the Republican nomination to run for a full term in the U.S. Senate. The victory came in a special runoff election against challenger Norman. Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, secured a historic win that was seen as a much-needed victory for Trump in South Carolina. The election results were reported by multiple news outlets including The Washington Post, CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, and The Guardian, highlighting the significance of Trump's endorsement in the race.
Darline Graham Wins South Carolina Primary to Replace Her Brother Lindsey Graham
Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, won the Republican primary runoff in South Carolina on August 25, 2026, to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate. She defeated Representative Ralph Norman with 52.5% of the vote, after President Donald Trump campaigned for her and his MAGA Inc. super PAC spent nearly $1 million in support. Graham was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to finish her brother's term after he died suddenly from an aortic tear on July 11. She will face Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews in the November general election, though the seat is considered safely Republican. Graham faced criticism during the campaign for admitting she is 'not that informed on national security,' despite her brother's reputation as a foreign policy hawk. She has campaigned on affordability and Trump's endorsement.
Trump support propels Darline Graham to victory in South Carolina runoff
South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican special election primary runoff on August 25, 2026, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman 52% to 48%. Graham was appointed to fill the seat after her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, died unexpectedly from an aortic tear in July. President Donald Trump strongly supported her campaign, hosting a rally in Myrtle Beach and encouraging other Republicans to back her. Graham's victory provides a boost for Trump ahead of November elections, though his endorsement has recently lost some effectiveness. Graham acknowledged being 'not that informed on national security' during a debate but presented herself as a plainspoken everywoman focused on kitchen table issues. She will now appear on the November ballot for a full six-year term.
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Trump Support Propels Darline Graham to Victory in South Carolina Senate Runoff
South Carolina Senator Darline Graham won the Republican primary runoff on August 25, 2026, defeating Representative Ralph Norman with 52% of the vote. Her victory was heavily driven by the endorsement and active campaigning of President Donald Trump, who held a rally for her in Myrtle Beach and deployed his super PAC. Graham was initially appointed to fill the seat of her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly from an aortic tear in July. Trump encouraged her to run for a full six-year term. Despite a debate stumble where Graham admitted being 'not that informed on national security,' she prevailed. The win provides a boost to Trump ahead of November elections, as his endorsement power has recently waned with several other candidates losing. Norman, a House Freedom Caucus member, conceded and acknowledged Trump's right to support his opponent.
Republicans Expect Darline Graham to Lose South Carolina GOP Runoff
Republicans are bracing for Senator Darline Graham, the temporary appointee and sister of the late Lindsey Graham, to lose South Carolina's GOP primary runoff against Representative Ralph Norman. Graham, who has no political experience, was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster after her brother's sudden death and gained President Trump's endorsement. Despite winning the initial primary, her campaign has faltered following a poor debate performance where she admitted national security 'is not my thing' and incorrectly stated South Carolina's population as 50 million. Republican operatives note she carries her brother's unfavorables without his goodwill and relies solely on hyper-engaged Trump voters. The winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November, though South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998. The race is described as a 'black box' due to a lack of reliable polling.
Republicans Expect Darline Graham to Lose South Carolina Senate Runoff
Republicans are bracing for Senator Darline Graham, the temporary appointee and sister of the late Lindsey Graham, to lose the South Carolina GOP primary runoff against Representative Ralph Norman. Graham, who has no political experience, was appointed by the governor after her brother's sudden death and won the initial primary with Trump's endorsement. However, her campaign has faltered after a disastrous debate performance where she admitted national security 'is not my thing' and falsely claimed South Carolina's population is 50 million. Republican operatives say she carries her brother's negatives without his goodwill and that her only support comes from hyper-engaged Trump voters. The winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November, though no Democrat has won a Senate seat in South Carolina since 1998.
Trump backs Darline Graham in South Carolina Senate runoff as primary losses mount
President Donald Trump has fully endorsed Senator Darline Graham in the South Carolina GOP Senate primary runoff against Representative Ralph Norman, despite concerns about her fitness for office. Graham, appointed to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's seat, faces Norman in a special election on Tuesday. The race tests Trump's endorsement power after recent primary losses. Graham struggled in a debate, admitting she was 'not that informed on national security,' while Norman positions himself as a proven conservative. The winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November in a safely Republican seat.
Darline Graham Wins South Carolina Republican Senate Primary Runoff
Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham and current interim senator, has won the Republican primary runoff in South Carolina's special Senate election. She defeated five-term Congressman Ralph Norman to secure the GOP nomination for November's general election. Graham, a disability advocate and former commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, received an endorsement from President Donald Trump. However, she faced criticism during a debate for being unable to answer a question about U.S. security concerns in the South China Sea, stating she was not informed on national security. Norman was endorsed by several Trump allies, including Senator Mike Lee and Congresswoman Nancy Mace. Graham will now compete in the general election to retain the seat.
South Carolina Republican Senate Primary Runoff: Graham vs Norman
The South Carolina Republican Party is holding a runoff election for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Senator Lindsey Graham earlier this summer. The two top finishers from the primary, Darline Graham and Ralph Norman, are competing for the GOP nomination ahead of November's general election. Darline Graham, Lindsey's sister and a disability advocate, has been serving as interim senator and received President Donald Trump's endorsement. However, she faced criticism in a recent debate for admitting she is not well-informed on national security issues, specifically regarding the South China Sea. Ralph Norman, a five-term congressman, is endorsed by several Trump allies including Senator Mike Lee and Representative Nancy Mace. Norman is an election denier who encouraged Trump to declare martial law in 2021 before President Biden's inauguration.
Darline Graham Embraces Election Denialism in South Carolina Senate Bid
Darline Graham, the 62-year-old sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham and current occupant of his South Carolina Senate seat, refused to commit to certifying the 2020 presidential election results during a press conference on Monday. When pressed by MS NOW's Mychael Schnell, Graham dodged the question, calling the 'election system broken' and pivoting to support for the SAVE America Act. The article highlights her lack of legislative experience and recent gaffe on Taiwan, where she said 'national security is not my thing.' Despite Trump's fervent endorsement, analysts note his 'magic touch' may be waning, with 10 of his endorsed candidates losing in this primary cycle. Graham faces five-term Representative Ralph Norman in Tuesday's primary to determine who will appear on the general election ballot.