South Carolina voters will head to the polls Tuesday for a Republican primary runoff that will determine which candidate advances to the November special election for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The two contenders are Darline Graham, sister of the late senator, and former U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman.
Endorsements and Local Support
Darline Graham carries the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, as well as backing from Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. Russell Fry, who finished third in the earlier primary. Norman, who previously ran for governor, secured the most votes in Greenville County, the state’s most populous county and a key Republican stronghold.
Background of the Race
Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to fill the remainder of her brother’s term after his death on July 11. She has now entered the race to win the full six‑year term on the November ballot. The initial primary failed to produce a candidate with a majority, triggering the runoff.
Campaign Highlights
During a recent debate in Columbia, Graham admitted limited experience in foreign policy, a traditional strength of the Graham family, and emphasized voters’ concerns about the economy over international issues. Norman countered that “this isn’t a get‑trained‑on‑the‑job” situation, suggesting voters need proven leadership.
Vote Totals So Far
In the June primary, Graham received 32.8% of the vote (109,881 votes) and Norman earned 24.6% (82,627 votes). The remaining Republican field included Fry (19.7%), former Gov. Mark Sanford (14.9%), and several others.
Implications
The winner of the runoff will likely become the Republican nominee for the November special election, a race that historically favors the GOP in South Carolina. The state has not elected a Democratic senator since 1998, and Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.
Beyond the Senate race, the 2026 midterm cycle includes 33 regularly scheduled Senate contests and two additional special elections, with control of the U.S. Senate currently held by Republicans at 53 seats.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
