Darline Graham Secures Victory In Runoff Race To Replace Late Brother On Ballot

Republican South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham defeated Republican South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s GOP Senate primary runoff race.

Graham and Norman advanced to Tuesday’s primary runoff because neither garnered a majority of the vote during the August 11 special primary. They defeated eight other candidates, including Republican South Carolina Rep. Russell Fry.

Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham to replace her brother, former Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who passed away on July 11.

President Donald Trump endorsed Graham and encouraged her to serve a full term. Graham held a tele-rally with Trump Monday, saying that because he “got her into this whole thing, I have to make sure she gets in.”

Trump held an in-person rally for Graham in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday.

Graham failed to answer Newsmax host Greta Van Susteren’s question about China’s threat to Taiwan and the South China Sea during an Aug. 18 debate.

“Senator, are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States? If so, why?” Van Susteren asked.

“I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security,” Graham said. “So … But I do support the military,” Graham replied.

Norman received endorsements from Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee, former Republican South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC). Former Republican Virginia Rep. Bob Good endorsed Norman in a Tuesday X post, urging South Carolina voters to “reject birthright senatorship.”

Trump-endorsed candidates tend to be successful in their primaries, although former Republican Florida congressional candidate Catalina Lauf lost to businessman Jim Schwartzel in an Aug. 18 primary despite Trump’s endorsement.

Many South Carolina Republicans were caught off guard when Graham entered the race. South Carolina Freedom Conference Chairman Jordan Pace told the Daily Caller that the party did not support her serving for a full term.

Republican South Carolina state Rep. Jay Kilmartin said many grassroots Republicans were frustrated with Graham’s policies and governing style.

Graham’s late brother was known for being a war hawk and a supporter of U.S. involvement in wars. He called for the assassination of Russian President Vladimir Putin when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, supported the Iran war and said billions of dollars being sent to Ukraine were the “the best money [the U.S. has] ever spent,” in a May 2023 statement.