Sen. Darline Graham Faces Runoff Against Rep. Ralph Norman

On Tuesday, Sen. Darline Graham was pushed into a Republican Senate primary runoff by Rep. Ralph Norman. This development raises questions about the influence of President Donald Trump’s endorsements in GOP primaries. Graham was appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to fill the remainder of her late brother Lindsey Graham’s term in July. She now seeks to secure a full six-year term in the Senate on the November ballot.

Trump encouraged Graham to run and endorsed her in a primary crowded with 10 GOP candidates, including Norman, Rep. Russell Fry, and former Governor Mark Sanford. The winner of the August 25 runoff will face Democrat Annie Andrews, a doctor who won her party’s primary in June.

Graham has never held elected office, and her limited political experience appeared to be a factor for some voters in the first round of the primary. This questions Trump’s influence on GOP voter preferences. “I understand she’s lost a brother and someone special to her, and I sympathize, but I don’t think it’s necessary just to give it to her,” said Republican voter Bob Howell in Lexington, South Carolina. He added, “I like President Trump, but I don’t think his endorsement sways my vote.”

Earlier this year, Trump’s favored candidate for governor, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, faced a runoff against state Attorney General Alan Wilson, with Trump unusually endorsing both. Wilson won that race. This was one of several instances where Trump’s preferred candidates did not secure Republican nominations for high offices across the country.

The winner of the Republican runoff is highly favored to win in November, as no Democrat has won a Senate seat in South Carolina since Fritz Hollings’ re-election in 1998. Graham, 62, took her brother’s Senate seat on July 11 after his death from cardiac arrest. Lindsey Graham had been seeking a fifth term in November and had already won a primary in June.

Trump quickly endorsed Darline Graham on Truth Social on July 17, days after her brother’s death. During her brief time in the Senate, Graham has focused on legislation to impose new sanctions on Russia and Iran. The Senate passed this measure, originally proposed by Lindsey Graham, with an added focus on Iran at Trump’s request. The bill was renamed in her brother’s honor.

“I think I’ve accomplished a lot in three weeks,” Darline Graham said after casting her vote, highlighting the sanctions bill and her vote to confirm Attorney General Todd Blanche. “I’m not being handed the seat. I realize I have to earn votes, so I’m working really hard.” She anticipated the race would move to a runoff.

Norman, who consistently supports Trump’s agenda in Congress, finished third in the state’s Republican gubernatorial primary earlier this year. Despite his strong ties to Trump, Lindsey Graham was one of the president’s closest allies. Trump eulogized him at Washington National Cathedral and endorsed Darline Graham. With Republican voters having supported her rivals, Graham must quickly gather support to retain a Senate seat held by her family since 2003.