Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., won the primary runoff to secure the Republican nomination in South Carolina’s Senate race, notching a major win for President Donald Trump who helped drive her to victory.
Graham — who was appointed to the Senate in July after the unexpected death of her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham — defeated Rep. Ralph Norman by nearly 20,000 votes, all but ensuring she’ll be elected to a full six-year term in the solid red state. It’s a substantial victory for the political novice, who faced intense scrutiny over the last two weeks due to her lack of experience.
That criticism only intensified after Graham’s debate against Norman last week, during which she conceded she is “not that informed on national security” — a major policy area that her late brother excelled in.
Still, Graham benefitted from Trump’s endorsement, which Norman had requested from the president but was denied. Trump also appeared alongside Graham on the campaign trail during the truncated campaign period, and his super PAC spent more than $800,000 to boost her campaign.
With the party’s nomination in hand, Graham is poised to win the general election in November as Republicans are heavily favored to win the Senate seat. The term will last through 2032.
The full term comes after South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster first tapped Graham to finish her brother’s term after his sudden death in July. She did not initially intend to seek a full term, but she ultimately decided to run for reelection with the support of the president.
Graham’s victory is the latest in a string of victories for Trump, who has continued to prove his influence over the Republican Party. It also comes as he seeks to fill the Senate with loyalists, even going so far as to defeat a pair of longstanding Republican senators in their primaries earlier this year.
Graham will go on to face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election. The seat is rated as R+8.