Darline Graham won the Republican nomination for the US Senate on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in a special primary runoff election held in Columbia. She will now appear on South Carolina’s general election ballot to replace her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham. This victory marks another success for former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Ms. Graham, a political newcomer.
Ms. Graham defeated US Representative Ralph Norman in the runoff. This followed their top-two finish in a 10-candidate primary. Governor Henry McMaster had previously appointed Ms. Graham to serve the remaining months of her brother’s term, which concluded with his sudden death on July 11. Trump encouraged her to run for a full term and campaigned for her in South Carolina last week, including an appearance in Myrtle Beach.
Addressing her supporters on Tuesday night, Ms. Graham expressed her gratitude for the support, acknowledging the challenging time for her family. She thanked the former president for his backing, stating that their victory would not have been possible without him. US Representative William Timmons and Governor McMaster were among those present at her speech.
Ms. Graham will now face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the November general election. On Monday, MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump and aligned Republicans, spent nearly $830,000 on voter calls and text messages in support of Ms. Graham.
During her brief campaign, Ms. Graham emphasized her intent to support Trump’s policy positions, frequently referencing her co-sponsorship of a voting bill that is a key priority for the former president. Representative Norman, speaking at his watch party in Rock Hill, thanked his supporters but criticized Ms. Graham for accepting outside PAC money and Trump for his endorsement.
In a runoff debate, Ms. Graham stumbled when asked about foreign policy, specifically the US national security interest in Taiwan and the South China Sea. She admitted that national security was not her area of expertise and that she was not well-informed on the topic, preferring to focus on domestic issues like affordability. Representative Norman, in contrast, called Taiwan a definite ally and applauded Trump for enabling Taiwan to defend itself against China, suggesting Ms. Graham’s answer showed a lack of qualifications.
South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to a US Senate seat in decades. In 2020, Senator Lindsey Graham defeated his Democratic opponent by a 10-percentage-point margin in what was the most expensive Senate contest in state history.
