Darlene Graham won South Carolina’s Republican Senate primary on August 11 with 32.57% of the vote, but fell short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff, setting up a second contest on August 25 against Congressman Ralph Norman, who finished second with 24.21% of the vote.
Graham, who was appointed to fill the remainder of her late brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate term following his death on July 11, has significant advantages heading into the runoff. She carries President Trump’s endorsement and benefits from the name recognition and sympathy surrounding her brother’s passing, according to multiple polls conducted before the primary.
The primary field was crowded with ten Republican candidates competing to become the party’s nominee for the general election in November. Former Representative Mark Sanford finished third with 14.61% of the vote, while Representative Russell Fry came in fourth with 20.59%. The remaining candidates—including Mark Lynch, Duke Buckner, Nancy Mace, and others—collectively garnered less than 10% of the vote.
Graham’s path to the primary was unusual. After her brother won the June 9 Republican primary with 56.8% of the vote, he died on July 11, triggering a special election process under South Carolina law. Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham, a sitting state senator, to fill the vacancy until a special primary could be held. That appointment put her in the race as an incumbent senator, though not one elected to a full term.
The runoff will be held on August 25, with early voting scheduled for August 19-21. Graham will need to win a majority of the vote to secure the Republican nomination for the general election, which is set for November. Whoever wins the runoff will be the presumptive Republican nominee, as South Carolina is a heavily Republican state where the GOP nominee typically wins the general election by a wide margin.
Norman, a U.S. Representative for South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, has positioned himself as an alternative to Graham, arguing he would chart a different course in the Senate. However, recent polling has shown Graham maintaining a lead in the race, and her Trump endorsement is expected to be a significant factor in the runoff contest.
Sources
- South Carolina Election and Voter Registration Board — Official primary results from August 11, 2026, showing Graham’s 32.57% and Norman’s 24.21%
- Ballotpedia — Confirmation of runoff date (August 25) and general election timeline
- The Hill — Pre-primary polling showing Graham and Norman as leading candidates
- NBC News — Coverage of Norman’s campaign launch and Graham’s entry into the race
- PBS NewsHour — Background on Graham’s appointment and the special election process following Lindsey Graham’s death
