<p>Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) won South Carolina’s Republican Senate special primary runoff on Tuesday, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and moving closer to securing a full term in the seat previously held by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.</p>
<p>With 89% of the vote counted, Graham Nordone received 52.3% of the vote compared to Norman’s 47.7%, according to the Associated Press.</p>
<p>Graham Nordone’s victory concludes an unusual and abbreviated campaign that began after Lindsey Graham died unexpectedly in July, prompting Republicans to seek a replacement for the longtime senator both in Washington and on the November ballot.</p>
<p>Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC) appointed Graham Nordone to temporarily fill her brother’s seat shortly after his death. President Donald Trump subsequently encouraged her to pursue a full six-year term and endorsed her campaign.</p>
<p>Graham Nordone, who had not previously held elected office, emerged from a crowded 10-candidate Republican primary earlier this month as the leading vote-getter, receiving approximately 33% of the vote, while Norman finished second with about 25%, necessitating a runoff since neither candidate secured a majority.</p>
<p>The race served as a test of Trump’s influence over Republican primary voters. Norman, a five-term congressman who recently finished third in the GOP gubernatorial primary, argued that his years in elected office and conservative record made him better suited for the Senate. In contrast, Graham Nordone emphasized her status as a political outsider while highlighting Trump’s support and her family’s longstanding ties to South Carolina politics.</p>
<p>Trump campaigned alongside Graham Nordone in Myrtle Beach in the final days of the runoff, reaffirming his endorsement after a debate performance that raised questions about her political experience.</p>
<p>During the debate, Graham Nordone acknowledged that she was “not that informed on national security” when asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea, which drew criticism from Norman and other Republicans, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who supported Norman.</p>
<p>Trump defended Graham Nordone post-debate, commending her for her honesty and reiterating his support during a rally in South Carolina. His involvement came as Republicans were divided over which candidate should succeed Lindsey Graham.</p>
<p>Graham Nordone received endorsements from several prominent Republicans, including Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), who finished behind Norman in the initial primary. Norman garnered support from former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who cited Norman’s focus on federal spending and the national debt in his endorsement.</p>
<p>Graham Nordone will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November. The Republican nominee is expected to be favored in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator in decades. Lindsey Graham won reelection in 2020 by approximately 10 percentage points, while Trump won South Carolina by a larger margin in 2024.</p>
<p>For Graham Nordone, Tuesday’s result marks a rapid political rise. Before entering the Senate last month, she worked in disability services and recently led the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.</p>
<p>Her relationship with her brother has been central to the unique circumstances surrounding the race. After their parents died when they were young, Lindsey Graham became his younger sister’s legal guardian and later adopted her to enable her to receive military benefits.</p>
<p>Graham Nordone has aimed to honor her brother’s legacy while also distinguishing her platform, particularly by focusing on domestic issues such as affordability rather than the foreign policy matters that characterized Lindsey Graham’s Senate career.</p>