The Senate Leadership Fund announced plans to invest $5 million in South Carolina to support Republican Senator Darline Graham, as noted by a source familiar with the situation on Tuesday.
Currently, Graham is leading her opponent, Democratic candidate Annie Andrews, by a slim margin of 2.4 points, which has raised alarms about her ability to retain the seat for Republicans. The Senate Leadership Fund, which acts as the primary super PAC for Senate Republicans, is treating this expenditure as a sort of “insurance policy” before the election scheduled for November 3, according to a confirmation from a source after Axios initially reported on the funding.
It’s worth mentioning that the Senate Leadership Fund had not contributed to Graham’s campaign earlier, which suggests growing concern among national Republicans regarding her prospects in the race.
In terms of fundraising, Andrews has outpaced Graham significantly, raising approximately $10.45 million more than the incumbent. Graham has reportedly gathered about $347,000, while Andrews topped $10.8 million as of June, according to Federal Election Commission records.
The 314 Action Fund, a PAC that promotes candidates with STEM backgrounds, contributed around $3.6 million to Andrews’ campaign. This PAC was established to support Democratic candidates like Andrews, who is a licensed pediatrician.
As of now, Graham’s team has not responded to inquiries for comments.
A poll conducted by the Trafalgar Group, known for its conservative-leaning insights and based in Atlanta, showed Graham leading Andrews with 43.4% to 42.3% in September. Concurrently, a poll from InsiderAdvantage taken on September 10 indicated Graham ahead by two points, while an August poll from Impact Research found the two candidates evenly matched at 41%. According to RealClearPolling, Graham’s margin stands at 2.4 points.
Earlier in her campaign, Graham won the Republican primary runoff against South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman on August 25, buoyed by an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. She was appointed by Republican Governor Henry McMaster to fill the seat left vacant by her late brother, Lindsey Graham, a former senator who passed away on July 11.
The late Lindsey Graham was known for advocating military actions such as the takeover of Kharg Island and supporting significant funds for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. He also maintained strong ties with Israeli leaders and made controversial statements, including one calling for the assassination of Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2022.
During a primary debate on August 19, Darline Graham experienced some difficulty when questioned about the national security implications of Taiwan and the South China Sea. When asked directly by Newsmax host Greta Van Susteren, she admitted, “I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security… But I do support the military.”
Many within the South Carolina Republican Party were surprised by her entry into the race. Jordan Pace, the chairman of the South Carolina Freedom Conference, remarked on August 11 that the party did not back her for a full term.
The state hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since 2005, when the former Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings left office. Currently, the Republicans dominate the South Carolina legislature, holding an 89 to 35 majority in the House and a 34 to 12 majority in the Senate.
Notably, the leading Republican super PAC has halted its spending in North Carolina and shifted focus, launching a seven-figure advertising campaign in Kansas, which typically leans Republican. This year, Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas is facing stiff competition from Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, with no Democrats holding a Senate seat in the state since the 1930s.
Axios: Senate GOP to send $5m to shore up Graham in South Carolina The main super PAC supporting Republican Senate candidates plans to inject $5 million into the South Carolina campaign as an “insurance policy” to help GOP nominee Darline Graham, a source familiar with the move tells Axios.
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) October 6, 2026
In the recent election cycle, Trump-aligned super PACs allocated 40% of their funds to regions where Trump secured victories by notable margins in the 2024 election. For instance, in Texas, Republicans are anticipating expenditures ranging from $150 million to $200 million to assist Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in his race against Democratic nominee James Talarico, who currently leads by 2.8 points.
