Darline Graham Wins South Carolina Republican Runoff with Trump's Support

<figure><img alt="President Donald Trump with Senator Darline Graham at a campaign rally at Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on August 21, 2026." src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/JTBRT77F4FDODJKQD32X46P6YU.jpg?auth=7c81d42f93adf6d38739bd719a5c9a33ac7f7c0b65b29c752d61a128de7990fb&amp;smart=true&amp;width=4688&amp;height=2637" /><figcaption>Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p>Senator Darline Graham won the South Carolina Republican runoff on August 25, 2026, after receiving significant support from former President Donald Trump. News organizations, including The Associated Press and NBC News, projected her victory around 9 p.m. that evening.</p><p>Trump congratulated Graham on Truth Social at 8:44 p.m., stating, “Darline Graham Wins! Endorsed by President Trump.” With 91 percent of votes counted by 9:07 p.m., Graham had secured 52.4 percent of the votes compared to Ralph Norman's 47.6 percent.</p><p>Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, will face Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews in the upcoming November election. Early polling indicates a competitive race for the open seat in a traditionally Republican state.</p><p>Despite being appointed to the Senate following her brother's death last month, Graham faced criticism regarding her qualifications. She has experience in state government but lacked experience in elected office, which became evident during her campaign as she struggled with policy questions.</p><p>During a recent debate, Graham stated, “national security is not my thing” when asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea. When questioned about her approach to national security, she mentioned that voters had not raised those issues with her.</p><p>Graham's responses to questions about affordability also drew criticism, as she stated, “We’ll see when I get there” regarding potential legislation.</p><p>Trump actively supported Graham's campaign, holding a rally for her and utilizing the MAGA Inc. super PAC, which spent over $800,000 to promote her candidacy. His endorsements emphasized her connection to her brother, stating she would honor his legacy.</p><p>Graham had previously failed to win the primary outright on August 11, receiving over 32 percent of the vote, while Norman received more than 24 percent. Some Republicans expressed concern about her candidacy being based on nepotism rather than qualifications.</p><p>Polling before the runoff suggested a tight race, and early voting saw increased turnout compared to the primary. The runoff followed the unexpected death of the late senator, who had won his primary bid outright in June.</p><p>While the Cook Political Report rates the seat as “Solid Republican,” Andrews has indicated that the dynamics of the race have shifted without an incumbent, suggesting it could be a battleground in the midterms.</p><p><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/south-carolina-runoff/">Read more at The Daily Beast.</a></p>