Overview
- Sen. Darline Graham defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in the Republican runoff on Tuesday, clinching the GOP nomination to seek a full six-year Senate term that had been held by her late brother Lindsey Graham.
- President Trump played a decisive role by endorsing and campaigning for Graham and by directing allied outside support, with MAGA Inc. reporting roughly $827,711 in late voter outreach to boost her turnout.
- Graham is a political newcomer who was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to finish her brother’s term and who drew wide attention for saying during a debate that she was “not that informed on national security,” a remark that prompted criticism from Republican rivals.
- Norman ran on his long electoral resume and won strong pockets of support, especially in Greenville, but his challenge was undercut by late outside spending for Graham and by low turnout in the compressed special-election calendar.
- Graham will be heavily favored against Democrat Annie Andrews in November in reliably Republican South Carolina, and the result will be watched as a signal of how effectively President Trump can move GOP primaries and turnout ahead of the midterms.