South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican primary runoff on August 25, 2026, defeating Representative Ralph Norman with 52.4% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. Backed by President Donald Trump and his MAGA INC super PAC, Graham advances to the November general election to face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews for her late brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat.
South Carolina Voters Choose Darline Graham in Special Primary Runoff
South Carolina voters chose Darline Graham as the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in a special primary runoff, wrapping up a whirlwind six-week race following the sudden death of her brother, the late Senator Lindsey Graham, on July 11 at 71 years old. With nearly all of the ballots counted, Graham had received 52.4% of the vote, ahead of Norman’s 47.6%. With 100% of all counties reporting across 46 of 46 counties and 2,311 of 2,311 precincts, Graham won by nearly five percentage points and about 18,000 votes in the runoff. More than 369,000 voted in the special election runoff, a roughly 34,000 increase from the initial primary on August 11. All results are unofficial, and the Associated Press called the race around 9 p.m. for Graham.
The decisive outcome capped a campaign that tested the political pull of President Donald Trump in the heavily Republican state. Two months ago, U.S. Sen. Darline Graham led an obscure state agency tasked with helping blind South Carolinians, and most didn’t know her name. Despite having little political experience prior to her appointment to finish out the remainder of her brother’s term, she secured the Republican nomination after a speedy, six-week special primary prompted by her brother’s sudden death. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to serve out the remainder of her brother’s term.
President Trump’s Personal Intervention and Financial Push
President Donald Trump Recruits and Endorses Darline Graham
For President Donald Trump, this one was personal. President Trump recruited, endorsed, and campaigned for her following Lindsey Graham’s death. Trump’s political and financial weight helped, with MAGA INC super PAC backing her candidacy with large campaign contributions. Trump’s support included a big rally on Friday, August 21, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he proclaimed, I am on the ballot,
and a tele-rally on Monday night. After Lindsey Graham’s death, the president had urged the state’s governor to appoint the senator’s sister to Mr. Graham’s seat for the remaining months of the current term, then encouraged her to run in her own right in November.
At her election night party in Columbia, Graham paid tribute to her late brother and credited Trump for getting her across the finish line.
I continue to miss Lindsey every day, and there is still a big hole in my heart. But I know he's looking down, very proud,
she told her supporters. Mr. president, Lindsey truly loved you and viewed you as one of his closest friends. I appreciate that bond and appreciate all that you’ve done for our country,
Graham continued. South Carolina is truly Trump country.
— Sen. Darline Graham
At her victory party, Sen. Darline Graham also thanked her supporters, saying, “What a night!” and I humbly accept your nomination to serve as the Republican nominee.
She also spoke about missing her brother, stating, I continue to miss Lindsey every day, and there is still a big hole in my heart. But I know he's looking down, very proud.
Graham thanked President Trump for his support and endorsement, saying, Mr. President, Lindsey truly loved you and viewed you as one of his closest friends. I appreciate that bond and all you've done for our country.
Darline Graham Defeats Representative Ralph Norman in Republican Runoff
Darline Graham faced a GOP runoff in her bid to keep her brother’s Senate seat. With full-throated support from Donald Trump, she overcame concern about her lack of legislative experience to beat five-term congressman Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s Republican special primary runoff. Lindsey Graham, a US senator for more than two decades, had won the party’s primary in June, but died the next month. Days later, Darline Graham was appointed to serve out the remainder of her brother’s Senate term.
The critics say I shouldn’t run for the Senate,
she told a rally audience Friday. They say I’m not a politician. You know what I say? Guilty as charged.
— Sen. Darline Graham
We've grieved as a family, and we've all grieved together as a state, haven't we? But tonight, you know what? We stand back up the way South Carolinians have done and look forward to the future. Graham
Ralph Norman Concession and the General Election Matchup
Graham defeated Representative Ralph Norman in South Carolina’s Republican primary runoff. Norman had advanced to the runoff after no candidate won the GOP special election primary outright earlier this month.
Graham, 62, will face the Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a Charleston-area pediatrician, in November. Andrews faces steep historical odds in the deeply conservative state.
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