U.S. Sen. Darline Graham and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman are favored in two polls released in the last week ahead of South Carolina’s U.S. Senate special Republican primary on Aug. 11. Graham led the poll from the Trafalgar Group with 27%, while Norman and U.S. Rep. Russell Fry each snagged 17%. Norman led the poll from the Emerson College Polling Center with 22%, and Graham was next at 19%.
Background
Nine Republicans are seeking the seat formerly held by Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11. If no candidate nets 50% plus one vote for a majority, a runoff is scheduled in two weeks later on Aug. 25. On Nov. 3, the winner will face Charlston pediatrician Dr. Annie Andrews and Libertarian Kasie Whitener.
Darline Graham, the younger sister of Lindsey Graham, was appointed to finish his term by Gov. Henry McMaster and has the support of second-term Republican President Donald Trump. Norman, finishing his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, was unsuccessful in his run for governor in the June primary.
South Carolina is a deeply red state, with Republicans dominating statewide offices for over a decade. The state Senate has a 34-12 Republican majority, and the House of Representatives has an 88-36 Republican majority.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
