Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) is the projected winner of Tuesday's South Carolina Republican primary runoff, according to Decision Desk HQ. Graham, who was appointed to the seat following the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), defeated Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) to secure the party's nomination for the general election in November.
The special election was triggered by the unexpected death of Lindsey Graham, 71, in early July due to a heart condition. Although he had already won the June primary for a fifth term, his death left the Republican ballot line vacant. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) appointed Darline Graham to serve the remainder of the term, which concludes early next year, while the special primary process determined the nominee for the subsequent full term.
In the initial special primary on August 11, Darline Graham received approximately 33% of the vote, while Norman received 25%. Because no candidate achieved a majority in the crowded field—which included Rep. Russell Fry and former Governor Mark Sanford—the top two finishers advanced to the Tuesday runoff. President Trump endorsed Graham, while Norman received support from former Governor Nikki Haley and Sanford.
During the campaign, rivals questioned Graham's lack of legislative experience. In a late July debate, Fry stated that the Senate was no place for "on-the-job training." Graham, a 62-year-old former commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, acknowledged she was "not a politician." Controversy arose during an August debate when Graham stated she was "not that informed on national security," prompting boos from the audience. Graham later defended her focus on domestic issues like healthcare affordability, stating that voters she met had not raised foreign policy concerns.
The scale of the race was underscored by significant outside spending. President Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., spent more than $827,000 on Graham’s behalf, primarily for text messages and phone calls—a sharp increase from the $18,000 the group had spent on other 2026 midterm races. Conversely, PACs aligned with Nikki Haley provided more than $700,000 in support for Norman. For South Carolina households, the transition from the two-decade tenure of Lindsey Graham to his sister represents a potential shift in legislative focus, as Darline Graham has signaled she may be more conservative than her brother on issues such as abortion and gun rights.
The victory serves as a measurement of President Trump's influence within the Republican party following mixed results in other state primaries. Because Graham is the first woman and the first graduate of a historically Black college and university (HBCU) to represent South Carolina in the Senate, her candidacy sets a new precedent for the state's representation in Washington. Following this projected victory, Graham will remain in the Senate as an appointee until the November general election determines who will hold the seat for the full term starting in January 2027.