Senator Darline Graham secured the Republican nomination in South Carolina’s special primary runoff held on August 25-26, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman with approximately 52.4-52.5% of the vote to Norman’s 47.6% [1, 2, 3, 4]. She will run in the November general election against Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician from the Charleston area [1, 5, 2, 3, 4].

Lindsey Graham died unexpectedly in July 2026 at age 71 after winning the June Republican primary for another Senate term [1, 3, 4]. Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham, Lindsey’s 62-year-old sister and a political novice who had never held elected office, to temporarily fill the Senate vacancy in July [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7].

Darline Graham faced Rep. Ralph Norman in the runoff after no candidate won a majority during the August 11 primary [1, 2, 3, 4]. Throughout the runoff campaign, former President Donald Trump endorsed her early and campaigned actively, including a tele-rally and an in-person rally in Myrtle Beach on August 25 [1, 5, 6, 7]. Trump’s MAGA Inc super PAC contributed over $800,000 supporting her campaign [1, 2, 3, 6, 7]. Trump praised Graham as a "winner all of her life" and said, "There is nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey." He added he had known her for years and that Lindsey respected her more than anyone including himself [5, 6].

During a debate, Graham admitted she was "not that informed on national security" when asked about Taiwan, prompting criticism from Norman who presented himself as the experienced conservative candidate focused on foreign policy [5, 2, 3, 4]. Norman tweeted, "South Carolina deserves a Senator who UNDERSTANDS Foreign Policy. I'm a PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH supporter! No more forever wars!" [2]. He also expressed confusion over Trump's involvement in the race, saying, "I hate it for the state and never understood why Trump got involved... but it is what it is, and I'll accept it." [4]

Darline Graham has positioned herself as more focused on domestic issues compared to her brother’s foreign policy expertise [6, 7]. During the campaign, she said, "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." [1]

South Carolina is considered a safely Republican state, with the last Democrat winning a statewide race in 2006 for superintendent and the last Democrat winning a Senate race in 1998 [1, 2, 3]. Darline Graham will represent the GOP on the November ballot as the general election approaches.