Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, emerged victorious in the South Carolina Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, as per projections from U.S. media outlets. This win, seen as a success for President Donald Trump, comes after Graham was appointed to fill the Senate seat until the start of January following her brother’s passing on July 11. She defeated Representative Ralph Norman and is set to compete in the November election for a full six-year Senate term, with Trump endorsing her campaign and providing substantial financial support through his MAGA INC super PAC.
During a rally in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Trump emphasized his support for Graham by declaring, “I am on the ballot.” The 62-year-old Graham is now gearing up to face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the upcoming general election. Given the deeply conservative nature of the state, Graham is anticipated to secure a comfortable victory.
This primary race serves as one of several assessments of Trump’s influence on voters leading up to this year’s midterm elections, as he endeavors to maintain Republican control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Despite Trump’s efforts, recent polls indicate that he is facing challenges due to economic concerns and ongoing conflicts such as the situation with Iran. Notably, Trump’s MAGA INC. allocated $827,711 US to support Graham, marking a rare instance of direct financial backing from the president to endorse a candidate.
Graham utilized the rally on Friday to address a previous misstep during a debate, where she admitted a lack of expertise in national security matters, an area that was pivotal in her brother’s Senate career. Acknowledging this, Graham moved the focus towards domestic topics, highlighting issues like immigration policies and anti-abortion advocacy. Prior to her Senate appointment, Graham’s professional background primarily involved advocacy for individuals with physical disabilities.
The state of South Carolina has consistently shown strong support for Trump in past elections, suggesting that it is unlikely to be a battleground in the struggle for Congressional control. Meanwhile, Norman, a 73-year-old real estate developer who previously served nearly a decade in the U.S. House, faced defeat in this runoff following an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid.