South Carolina’s Republican primary for U.S. Senate will advance to a runoff on August 25 between appointed Sen. Darline Graham and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, after no candidate reached the 50 percent threshold required to win outright in Tuesday’s special primary election.
Graham, who was appointed to fill the remainder of her late brother Lindsey Graham’s term after his death on July 11, led the field with 56.8 percent of the vote in the August 11 primary. Norman finished second and advanced to face her in the runoff.
South Carolina law requires candidates to secure a majority of votes to win a special primary outright. When no candidate meets that threshold, the top two vote-getters automatically advance to a runoff, which is scheduled for August 25—just two weeks after the initial primary.
Darline Graham, 62, made history when she was sworn in on July 14, becoming South Carolina’s first female senator and the first sibling in U.S. history appointed to replace a senator who died in office. Her brother served two decades in the Senate. She announced her candidacy for a full six-year term shortly after her appointment, with backing from President Trump.
Ralph Norman, a congressman representing South Carolina’s 5th District, emerged as the main challenger in the crowded Republican field. The winner of the August 25 runoff will advance to the general election, where the Republican nominee will face Democrat Annie Andrews, who won her party’s primary.
Graham’s path to the runoff reflects the fractured state of the Republican primary, with nine candidates on the ballot initially. Her strong showing—despite limited time campaigning as a newly appointed senator—positioned her as the frontrunner heading into the runoff phase.
Sources
- AP News — Darline Graham’s appointment as temporary replacement for Lindsey Graham and her candidacy for full term
- NBC News — Runoff announcement and August 25 date confirmation
- The New York Times — Primary results, vote percentages, and runoff mechanics
- The Washington Post — South Carolina runoff rules requiring 50 percent threshold
- NPR — Graham’s advancement to runoff and general election matchup
- The Guardian — Trump’s endorsement of Darline Graham
