Darline Graham Wins South Carolina Republican Senate Runoff
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Darline Graham defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in the Republican runoff, securing the GOP nomination for the November Senate race in South Carolina.
Darline Graham, appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to fill the remainder of her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham's term, won the Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina on Tuesday, according to a CBS News projection. She defeated Rep. Ralph Norman, who had placed second in the Aug. 11 special primary where Graham received about 33% of the vote and Norman roughly 25%, prompting a runoff after neither candidate reached a majority.
The former commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind highlighted her decades of state service and described herself as a "problem solver, a critical thinker, and a leader," while acknowledging limited experience in elected office. During a debate, she admitted she was "not that informed on national security" when asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea, emphasizing her support for the military.
Norman, a 73-year-old real estate developer and U.S. House member since 2017, positioned himself as a seasoned conservative legislator and referred to Graham as an "unknown candidate."
President Donald Trump campaigned for Graham, holding a tele-rally and stating he had encouraged her to run. His political action committee spent more than $800,000 on phone outreach for her campaign, according to Federal Election Commission data. In her victory speech, Graham thanked Trump and his supporters.
Graham's win sets up a November contest against Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democratic nominee. The seat is expected to remain under Republican control, as South Carolina has not elected a Democratic senator since 1998 and Trump carried the state by 18 points in the 2024 presidential election.