Voters in South Carolina are casting ballots Tuesday in a Republican primary runoff to determine who will seek the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). The race features Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.), who was appointed to the seat following her brother’s death in July, and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a member of the House Freedom Caucus who has served in Congress since 2017. Neither candidate reached the 50% threshold required to win outright during the Aug. 11 special primary, where Graham received approximately 33% of the vote and Norman received nearly 25%.
The runoff has become a focal point for President Donald Trump, who endorsed Darline Graham and encouraged her to run for a full six-year term. The president has integrated himself into the campaign, telling supporters at a Friday rally in Myrtle Beach to "pretend" that he is on the ballot. This contest follows a series of primary losses for Trump-backed candidates in Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa, leading analysts to view the South Carolina result as a measure of the president's current influence within the party.
Campaign spending has favored Graham, supported by significant late-stage investments from outside groups. Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., spent over $827,000 on phone calls and text messages for Graham, marking its first major expenditure for a candidate since March. Additionally, Security is Strength PAC contributed more than $1.8 million and Palmetto Action gave nearly $1.2 million to support Graham or oppose Norman in the final week. Norman has largely self-funded his effort, donating $1.7 million to his campaign in mid-August.
During a debate last week, Graham drew attention for stating she was "not that informed on national security" when asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea. She described herself as a "problem solver" rather than a "polished politician" and noted that foreign policy was not her area of expertise, though she emphasized her support for the military. Norman and former Governor Nikki Haley, who endorsed Norman, questioned Graham's preparedness for the Senate, with Norman arguing the position does not allow for "training-on-the-job."
The scale of financial investment in this single-state runoff is notable, with MAGA Inc. utilizing a portion of its $400 million war chest specifically for this contest. The more than $827,000 spent by the super PAC on outreach translates to significant contact volume for the state's Republican primary electorate, which saw Graham and Norman split roughly 58% of the vote in the initial primary round. Residents have experienced this impact through a surge in campaign advertisements, text messages, and automated calls funded by the millions of dollars in late-arriving super PAC contributions.
A victory for Graham would solidify the "America First" wing's presence in the Senate and provide a test case for whether a candidate without prior legislative experience can successfully leverage a presidential endorsement to overcome questions about policy expertise. Conversely, a Norman victory would signal the effectiveness of a traditional legislative background and the influence of local endorsements like those from Haley and former Governor Mark Sanford. The final results are expected Tuesday night, which will determine the Republican strategy and platform heading into the general election campaign against Andrews.