Political newcomer Darline Graham wins South Carolina’s GOP Senate runoff
Her win in the snap primary to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham comes after President Donald Trump significantly boosted her campaign.
Sen. Darline Graham defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in South Carolina’s snap Senate GOP primary, a significant win for President Donald Trump after a string of his endorsed candidates stumbled in recent weeks.
The president went to great lengths to get her over the finish line: He encouraged her to get into the race with his early endorsement, reiterated that support as she fumbled on the debate stage, and rallied for her in Myrtle Beach — a step that he hasn’t taken for most of his preferred candidates this cycle.
The support didn’t stop there. MAGA Inc., Trump’s behemoth super PAC, spent over $827,000 on phone calls and text messages for Graham, money that Republicans in competitive battlegrounds have been anxiously waiting for.
Her victory proves that Trump’s backing is still a decisive force in Republican politics when he chooses to give his candidate of choice unwavering and active support.
Graham will replace her late brother, Lindsey Graham, on the ballot in November as the Republican nominee. She is all but guaranteed election to a full Senate term in deep red South Carolina.
Trump’s loyal backing proved crucial for Graham in the two-week runoff sprint, after a debate stage fumble on foreign policy led Norman and his allies to attack her for her political inexperience. The president’s appearance alongside Graham at a rally in the final days of the race allowed her to close out the primary by reiterating her close ties to Trump.
Graham’s win is a remarkable coup for a figure who was unknown to the public just a few weeks ago. She had no prior experience in elected office until she was appointed to the Senate by GOP Gov. Henry McMaster after her brother Lindsey died unexpectedly in July. Since 2019, she has led South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind and had previously worked for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department.
Norman, meanwhile, is a Freedom Caucus stalwart who’s served nine years in Congress and clashed with Trump occasionally over spending — though he’s largely backed the president’s agenda.
In the end, his experience didn’t win over voters, and he also saw backlash from the solar industry, which spent $1 million to help defeat him.