South Carolina Republicans selected Darline Graham as their nominee in the special primary runoff following the sudden passing of her brother, longtime Senator Lindsey Graham. The victory secures the Republican nomination for a full six-year Senate term beginning in 2027 and delivers a major political win for President Donald Trump, who personally backed her campaign.
Senator Darline Graham, 62, defeated Representative Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s primary runoff, according to projected election tallies. Lindsey Graham, who served four terms in the Senate and won the Republican nomination in June, died last month. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster subsequently appointed Darline Graham to fulfill the remainder of her brother’s unexpired term ending early next year.
The special primary runoff was triggered after no candidate crossed the required 50% voting threshold during the August 11 primary, where Graham led with nearly 33% of the vote compared to Norman’s 25%. A newcomer to elected office, Graham previously served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, leaning on her decades of public service while addressing questions regarding her foreign policy experience.
"I’m not that informed on national security. I’m not a polished politician."
Darline Graham acknowledged during a televised candidate debate preceding the runoff.
Representative Ralph Norman, a 73-year-old real estate developer and member of the House Freedom Caucus who has represented South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District since 2017, sought to leverage his legislative record against Graham’s lack of political background. However, Graham maintained a decisive advantage through President Trump’s endorsement and financial backing, with pro-Trump political action committees investing over $800,000 in campaign outreach.
Speaking alongside Graham at a campaign rally in South Carolina, President Trump underscored his direct endorsement of her candidacy.
"I said, 'Darline, you gotta do it,' because everyone loves her, everyone respects her."
President Donald Trump stated to supporters during a campaign event prior to the election.
Addressing campaign supporters following the announcement of the election results, Graham expressed formal gratitude to the president.
"Our victory would not have been possible without you, and we are truly grateful."
Darline Graham declared during her victory address on Tuesday night.
Norman’s previous endorsement of Nikki Haley during the 2024 Republican presidential primary also re-emerged as a central issue during the campaign, drawing public criticism from the president.
"He ruined his career when he endorsed Nikki Haley."
President Donald Trump stated regarding Representative Ralph Norman during campaign appearances.
Following her primary victory, Graham advances to the November general election to face Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews, who secured her party's nomination in June. South Carolina voters have not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1998, with President Trump carrying the state by approximately 18 percentage points in 2024. A general election victory in November would confirm Graham's election to a full six-year term in the Senate.
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