South Carolina Republicans head to the polls tomorrow for a runoff that will determine the GOP nominee to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, with President Trump’s backing of appointed Sen. Darline Graham facing a test against U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman.
Darline Graham advanced from the August 11 special primary with 33 percent of the vote, narrowly ahead of Norman’s 24 percent in a 10-candidate field. The top two vote-getters now compete on August 25 for the Republican nomination, with the winner facing Democrat Annie Andrews in November.
Graham was appointed to the seat on July 13, 2026, by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to fill the remainder of her brother’s fourth term following his death on July 11. She is running to keep the seat for a full six-year term.
Trump traveled to South Carolina on August 21 to rally for Graham, pledging his “complete and total endorsement” and telling the crowd, “We’re going to elect Senator Darline Graham to fight, fight, fight for South Carolina and to always put America first.” Trump’s endorsement carries significant weight in Republican primaries—according to Ballotpedia data, Trump-endorsed candidates in 2026 have won roughly 97 percent of their races.
Graham’s campaign has faced questions about her experience and policy knowledge. During an August 18 debate, when asked whether Taiwan and the South China Sea posed a U.S. national security threat, she said, “I’m just going to be honest here; I’m not that informed on national security.” She added that she could learn and would “become informed,” but the moment drew criticism from Norman and others who questioned her readiness for the office.
Norman has argued that his experience as a congressman makes him the more qualified choice. In an interview, Norman called Trump’s endorsement of Graham a “head scratcher,” and former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who finished third in the primary, endorsed Norman in the runoff.
Tim Scott, South Carolina’s other Republican senator, has defended Graham, saying she “supports President Donald J. Trump every day on every major issue.” Graham enters the runoff with the advantage of her family name, her appointed status, and Trump’s backing—but she will need to consolidate support from the roughly 43 percent of primary voters who backed other candidates.
Sources
- PBS NewsHour — Darline Graham and Ralph Norman’s advancement to the runoff and the August 11 primary results
- Washington Post — Trump’s August 21 rally for Darline Graham and his endorsement statement
- AP News — Darline Graham’s “not that informed on national security” debate comment and Ralph Norman’s response
- NBC News — Darline Graham’s appointment to the Senate and the runoff election setup
- Reuters — Trump’s endorsement of Graham and Tim Scott’s defense of her record
- Ballotpedia — Trump’s 2026 primary endorsement success rate
- Politico — Mark Sanford’s endorsement of Ralph Norman
