TL/DR –
Darline Graham has been selected as the Republican nominee for the US Senate, replacing her brother’s seat. Despite concerns about her lack of legislative experience, Graham received support from Donald Trump and won over five-term congressman Ralph Norman in the primary runoff with 52.5% of the vote. Graham will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November, while many consider her victory significant due to Trump’s endorsement and the financial backing from his Super Pac.
Republican Darline Graham Claims US Senate Nomination
South Carolina voters have selected Darline Graham as the Republican nominee for US Senate. This seat was formerly held by her late brother, Lindsey Graham, who passed away following his primary win in June.
Despite concerns about her lack of legislative experience, Darline Graham secured the nomination, beating five-term congressman Ralph Norman with 52.5% of the vote according to the Associated Press. Her win can be largely attributed to the strong support from Donald Trump.
Trump’s full backing, coupled with his call to voters to “pretend” he was on the ballot, resulted in his Super Pac spending more than $800,000 in support of Graham throughout the campaign.
Despite a notable gaffe during a debate concerning national security, Graham’s campaign successfully weathered the fallout, with some voters dismissing the perceived effect as mere media spin.
She will now face Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and Democratic nominee in the November ballot. Notably, no Democrat has won a statewide race in South Carolina since 2006.
Interestingly, Horry county and coastal communities, known for their growing population and loyalty to Trump rather than to the state’s political machine, proved decisive in the race.
While Norman’s campaign sought to cast Graham as a creation of Washington’s elite and himself as the true heir to South Carolina’s Maga legacy, his previous endorsement of Nikki Haley over Trump in the 2023 Republican presidential nomination possibly lost him crucial support.
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