The South Carolina Republican Senate special election is proceeding to a runoff after candidate Darline Graham did not receive sufficient support despite an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. As of 8:15 p.m. on election night, Graham was in the lead with 32.6% of the votes counted, followed by Rep. Ralph Norman at 24% and Rep. Russell Fry at 20.3%. Since no candidate achieved the required 50% of the vote, a runoff is scheduled for August 25.
Trump endorsed Graham prior to her official announcement to run for the seat previously held by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. However, her political experience has been questioned, as she has never held elected office. In the weeks leading up to the election, she promoted her conservative credentials by endorsing various bills, including anti-abortion and anti-immigration measures.
Graham, who was appointed to fill her brother's seat temporarily, expressed her commitment to supporting Trump's election priorities and voted to confirm his former attorney, Todd Blanche, as Attorney General shortly before the election. Trump held a tele-rally for her the night before the election, describing her as a strong candidate.
Despite her efforts, concerns about her political beliefs persisted, particularly regarding a campaign donation she made to state Sen. Katrina Shealy, who opposed a near-total abortion ban. Graham's team did not respond to inquiries about her stance on abortion directly. Additionally, her experience in state government and her past actions regarding diversity and inclusion initiatives were scrutinized by conservative commentators. The election saw a total of $4.7 million spent on advertising, with Graham leading at $1.8 million.