Trump‑endorsed Darline Graham clinched the South Carolina Republican runoff Tuesday, winning 53.3% of the vote and securing the GOP nomination for a full six‑year Senate term. She will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November, a race The Cook Political Report rates as Solid Republican.
Trump‑Endorsed Darline Graham Wins SC GOP Runoff
Graham defeated Rep. Ralph Norman, who captured 46.7% of the runoff vote, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race at 8:38 pm EDT. The victory marks a dramatic rise for a political newcomer who had never held elected office before her July appointment to the Senate.
Trump campaigned for Graham in Myrtle Beach on Friday, urging MAGA voters to turn out even though he was not on the ballot. “They say Trump does great when he’s on the ballot. But when he’s not on the ballot, his people don’t come, and they don’t vote for senators, congressmen, and other Republicans,” he said. “What I want you to do is pretend – please – like I’m on the ballot. Just come and vote. It’s so important.”
Norman’s strong performance revealed significant hesitation among Republican voters about handing Graham a full term. A viral debate‑night gaffe in which she admitted she was “not that informed on national security” underscored those doubts.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley condemned the remark, saying, “Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States’ national security. Graham admits she’s not,” and adding that such knowledge is critical in the Senate.
Graham has positioned herself as a conservative champion, advocating a pro‑life agenda and a ban on biological men competing in women’s sports while pledging to honor her late brother’s legacy. She said public service is about helping people, not titles.
Norman, a longtime conservative legislator first elected in a 2017 special election, earned endorsements from Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Mike Lee of Utah, as well as several Upstate sheriffs. He presents voters with a predictable conservative record, a contrast to Graham’s limited experience.
Turnout in the runoff was abnormally low, with officials citing voter fatigue as the primary factor. If elected in November, Graham would become the first woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina.
Graham entered the special Senate race on July 20 after Trump shouted, “RUN, DARLINE, RUN!” to the head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. Governor Henry McMaster appointed her in July to fill the remainder of her brother’s term.
Lindsey Graham died last month from an aortic dissection after reporting chest pain to a staffer, a development that left the president in grief. Girdusky said the president loved Lindsey and quickly picked Darline.
Graham now faces Annie Andrews in a November contest that The Cook Political Report labels Solid Republican. The seat is expected to remain in GOP hands.
