Senator Darline Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, won the GOP Senate primary runoff against fellow Republican Ralph Norman, as reported by The Associated Press.
Both candidates advanced to the runoff after neither achieved a majority in the initial special primary held on August 11, defeating eight other contenders, including Representative Russell Fry.
Graham was appointed to fill the seat left vacant by her brother, the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11.
Former President Donald Trump backed Graham and urged her to complete a full term, holding a tele-rally with her on the eve of the runoff. He said his support was vital because he had “got her into this whole thing.”
Prior to the runoff, Trump also held a campaign rally for her in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
During a debate on August 18, Graham struggled to respond to a question posed by Newsmax host Greta Van Susteren regarding the national security implications of Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Van Susteren asked, “Senator, are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States? If so, why?” to which Graham replied, “I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security… But I do support the military.”
Q: Are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States?
Sen. Darline Graham: I’m just going to be honest here… I’m not that informed on national security. pic.twitter.com/bJsCjqb7VT
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 19, 2026
Between July 23 and August 5, Graham raised over $346,000, as reported by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). The pro-Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc., contributed over $827,000 in support through voter outreach efforts.
Norman received endorsements from several prominent Republicans, including Senator Rick Scott from Florida and Representative Nancy Mace from South Carolina. Additionally, former Governor Mark Sanford and the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) backed him, while Bob Good, a former Congressman from Virginia, encouraged South Carolinians via social media to “reject birthright senatorship.”
Typically, candidates endorsed by Trump perform well in primaries, though Catalina Lauf, a former congressional candidate in Florida, lost her recent primary despite receiving Trump’s support.
Graham’s entry into the race caught many South Carolina Republicans by surprise. Jordan Pace, Chairman of the South Carolina Freedom Conference, remarked that the party did not favor her serving a full term.
Furthermore, state Representative Jay Kilmartin noted that many grassroots Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with Graham’s policies and approach to governance.
Lindsey Graham, Darline’s late brother, was known for his hawkish stance on military intervention and had made headlines for his controversial statements regarding foreign conflicts, including calling for the assassination of Vladimir Putin during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
