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South Carolina U.S. Senate runoff election will test Trump's endorsement
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"I'm doing this to honor Lindsey. 21. His PAC wallet has been mostly shut during several close Republican primaries this election cycle.
The familiar last name and near-blank political slate pulled him in.
"I really liked her brother, Lindsey Graham. I just wanted to make sure that she's truly genuine to the people of South Carolina," he said.
Despite her lack of political experience, Graham inherited a seasoned campaign machine. She told supporters in Aiken, South Carolina on Monday that her brother's legacy is one she wishes to continue in a full term.
"I want to continue to fight to finish what he was doing. He helped this state. He brought resources to this state. And you know what?
"I'm just going to be honest here," she said. "I'm not that informed on national security."
The response from Graham prompted 'boos' from the audience. Lindsey Graham was known for his aggressive defense on U.S. national security and dedicated his career to foreign policy issues.
Earlier this year, Rep. Norman ran for South Carolina governor but came in third place. During his short campaign for Senate, Norman has leaned on his political experience as a reason why voters should send him to the chamber.
Voting earlier on Tuesday, Rep. Norman leaned into his underdog role in this race.
"I love being an underdog," he said. "I think our people are going to get out and vote. I think they're excited. While Norman aligned with the president politically, he endorsed his longtime friend former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley in her 2024 presidential bid against Trump.
However, voters across parties have been bucking the political class by voting for anti-establishment candidates this election cycle. Graham has definitely used the fact she isn't a career politician to her advantage.
South Carolina Public Radio's Luis-Alfredo Garcia contributed to this report.
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− Senate runoff election will test Trump’s endorsement The primary runoff in South Carolina between Sen.
+ Darline Graham wins GOP nomination for U.S.
− Darline Graham and Rep.
+ Senate in South Carolina In a major win for President Trump who went all in for the political newcomer, Sen.
− Ralph Norman is another test of President Trump's influence.
+ Darline Graham beat out longtime Congressman Ralph Norman in a special election primary runoff in South Carolina.
− He's backing Darline, sister of the late Sen.
+ Elections Sen.
− Lindsey Graham.
+ Darline Graham wins GOP nomination for U.S.
− Elections South Carolina U.S.
+ Senate in South Carolina Updated August 25, 20269:01 PM ET Originally published August 25, 20264:47 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered From
By
Gavin Jackson
,
Saige Miller
President Donald Trump listens to U.S.
− Senate runoff election will test Trump's endorsement August 25, 20264:47 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered From
By
Gavin Jackson
,
Saige Miller
U.S.
+ Sen.
− President Donald Trump stands with Sen.
+ Darline Graham during a campaign rally on August 21, 2026 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
− Tim Scott (R-SC) (C) and Sen.
+ President Trump traveled to South Carolina to support Graham ahead of Tuesday's runoff election against Rep.
− John Barrasso (R-WY) during a campaign rally for Sen.
+ Ralph Norman.
− Darline Graham (R-SC) on August 21, 2026 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
+ Win McNamee/Getty Images North America hide caption
COLUMBIA, S.C.
− President Trump traveled to South Carolina to join Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham for a campaign rally ahead of Tuesday's runoff election against Ralph Norman.
+ — South Carolina Sen.
− Win McNamee/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption
COLUMBIA, S.C.
+ Darline Graham has won the GOP nomination for the U.S.
− — South Carolina Republican voters are returning to the polls Tuesday to decide who will replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham on the general election ballot in November.
+ Senate, according to a race call by the Associated Press.
− After no candidate in a crowded field won outright in a Republican special primary earlier this month, the state is holding a runoff between Graham's sister, Sen.
+ Her win came after an endorsement from President Trump, backing her for a full term in the seat formerly held by her brother, the late Sen.
− Darline Graham, and Congressman Ralph Norman.
+ Lindsey Graham.
− The outcome of Tuesday's race will test President Trump's influence in the state.
The past month and a half has been a scramble to replace the state's senior U.S.
+ She beat Rep.
− Senator who had just secured the nomination in the June primary for his fifth U.S.
+ Ralph Norman for the nomination in Tuesday's special election primary runoff after no candidate won the GOP special election primary outright earlier this month.
− Senate term before dying from a heart condition on July 11.
+ She now faces Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in November in the heavily Republican state.
− South Carolina's GOP Gov.
+ Trump had backed Graham, a political newcomer, as the interim replacement for her brother, who died from a heart condition on July 11 and South Carolina Gov.
− Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to serve out the remainder of her brother's term following his death. She came in first place following a special election on Aug. 11 to replace him on the November ballot to run for a full term.
+ Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to serve out the remainder of her brother's term.
− But Graham failed to secure the amount of votes needed to avoid a runoff election.
+ Then Trump endorsed Graham to run for a full term.
− The race is shaping up to be one of Trump's biggest bets of the midterm primary cycle. Trump encouraged Graham to run, endorsed her, and held a rally for her in South Carolina ahead of the runoff election.
+ The race was one of Trump's biggest bets of the midterm primary cycle, staking Graham against more experienced members of the party establishment.
− Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., has also spent more than $827,000 on behalf of Graham.
− That's why I'm here," Trump said at the Myrtle Beach rally on Aug.
+ That's why I'm here," Trump said at a Myrtle Beach rally on Aug.
− "So, Darline, we got to win that race."
Trump's significant personal and financial investment into the race is rare.
+ "So, Darline, we got to win that race."
Graham touted her connection to Trump. "The critics say I shouldn't run for the Senate. They say I'm not a politician. You know what I say? Guilty as charged," she said during the rally. "By the way, President Trump has never served in elected office before and I think he's done a damn good job."
Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., spent more than $827,000 on behalf of Graham.
− And in some tough primary races, the president's support hasn't been a silver bullet.
+ The president's support has a mixed record this year, with losses in prominent races in Florida, Georgia, Iowa and Minnesota, among other places.
− Trump has seen primary defeats in Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Wyoming and even in South Carolina during the gubernatorial primary in June.
+ Overall, his endorsement has won more than lost in the primaries, where he can flex his influence with the Republican base.
− 60-year-old Ray Saldi voted for Graham, but he said the endorsements from officials in support of her were not what solidified the decision.
+ Ray Saldi, 60, voted for Graham and said the endorsements from officials in support of her were not what solidified the decision.
− To Saldi, it felt as though Graham would be more willing to put South Carolina above all else.
+ Saldi said he felt Graham would be more willing to put South Carolina above all else.
− In the Aug. 11 special election, Graham received around 33% of the vote, while Norman got about 25%. A third candidate, U.S. Rep. Russell Fry placed third. The lack of an outright win for Graham shows GOP voters aren't fully sold on the Trump-back candidate.
− Her brother had been in elected office since 1995, when Lindsey Graham initially served in the House.
+ Her brother had been in elected office since 1995, when he initially served in the House.
− She is also leaning on the legacy of her brother during the campaign, who had a state and Washington team with a solid reputation for their constituent services.
− If we don't bring them here, they're going to go somewhere else, right?"
But Graham isn't as hawkish as her brother. During the only candidate debate leading up to the runoff election, hosted by NewsMax, Graham caught heat for her answer on a question about the significance of Taiwan and the South China Sea.
+ If we don't bring them here, they're going to go somewhere else, right?"
During the only candidate debate leading up to the runoff election, hosted by NewsMax, Graham caught heat for her answer on a question about the significance of Taiwan and the South China Sea.
− It also presented a weak spot.
− Rep.
+ Norman, on the other hand, did have political experience as a five-term Congressman and a member of the House Freedom Caucus.
− Norman, on the other hand, does have political experience as a five-term Congressman.
− The electricity that we've had has been great."
He also appeals to some Trump skeptics.
+ The electricity that we've had has been great."
He also appealed to some Trump skeptics.
− Haley has returned that support to the tune of more than $700,000 in outside money from PACs aligned with her. That makes Haley the biggest outside player supporting Norman, with whom she also served in the state House of Representatives several years before being elected governor in 2010.
+ Haley returned that support to the tune of more than $700,000 in outside money from PACs aligned with her.
− "The critics say I shouldn't run for the Senate. They say I'm not a politician. You know what I say? Guilty as charged," Sen. Graham said during the Myrtle Beach rally. "By the way, President Trump has never served in elected office before and I think he's done a damn good job."
Whoever wins the runoff election will face the Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in November. The seat is considered to be a safe Republican win.