(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Darline Graham will have the place of her brother Lindsey on the Nov. 3 ballot, having defeated U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate special Republican primary runoff on Tuesday.
The race was called about 2 hours and 15 minutes after polls closed. Graham defeated Norman 52.5%-47.6% with 100% of precincts reporting the 12.2% turnout (369,014 votes). Dr. Annie Andrews, a Charleston pediatrician, is the Democratic opponent in November and is joined on the ballot by Libertarian Kasie Whitener.
The special election became necessary when Lindsey Graham died July 11. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to fulfill the remainder of the term in the 119th Congress that ends on the first of January, and she decided to seek the six-year term by succeeding her brother on the Nov. 3 ballot.
From a crowded field, and after a failed run for governor in the June primary, Norman emerged second to Graham in the special primary two weeks ago. Without achieving 50% plus one of the votes, a runoff was necessary.
Graham, within hours of her brother’s death, carried the support of second-term Republican President Donald Trump. The eve of the runoff included an injection of voter calls and text message blasts valued at $830,000, paid for by the MAGA Inc. super PAC supporting the president and aligned with Republicans.
“Our victory would not have been possible without you, and we are truly grateful,” Graham said of Trump in her victory speech.
Norman said he respected the president’s “prerogative” to inject his presence in the race, though his comments indicated he did not like it. He said he does like the policies of the 80-year-old whose mercurial domination of party direction has run roughshod over those who cross him since he bullied through a 17-candiate field in the 2016 presidential cycle a decade ago – Lindsey Graham among them.
“I really hate it for the state,” Norman said. “I don’t hate it for me. I hate it for the state. But the public of South Carolina made the decision.
“I never understood why he got in this race.”
Darline Graham took a debate punch on foreign policy tied to national security. She later said as she traveled the state, not a single voter asked her about Taiwan and the South China Sea. They did ask, she said, about rising costs in healthcare and day to day affordability.
In addition to Trump, she had the backing of Republican South Carolina U.S. Sen Tim Scott and Republican South Carolina U.S. Rep. Russell Fry.
Norman, a leading fiscal hawk in the House of Representatives from the 5th Congressional District, had endorsements of Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Utah Sen. Mike Lee. Usually with Trump, he broke in 2024 to support former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s bid for president.
“I continue to miss Lindsey every day, and there is still a big hole in my heart,” Graham said. “But I know he’s looking down right now very proud of everyone in this room.”
Turnout Tuesday was about 23,000 better than two weeks earlier for the crowded primary. In June, the state’s regular election cycle primary drew about 465,000 voters.
Graham won 34 of 46 counties. And whereas Fry won eight counties in the Pee Dee two weeks ago, Graham won them all backed by Fry’s endorsement and Trump’s visit to Myrtle Beach on Friday.
Norman won Oconee and Abbeville counties that had been won by Graham on Aug. 11.
This Senate seat is one of 33 in regular rotation for the 2026 midterms nationwide, and there are also two special elections. Majority control rests with Republicans at 53 seats, and contests in North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Maine, Iowa, New Hampshire, Alaska, Texas and Montana figure to determine if Trump's agenda the next two years will stall in the chamber.
Graham will be heavily favored against Andrews. There hasn’t been a Democrat from the state in the U.S. Senate since Sen. Fritz Holdings retired in 1998.
Republicans have also dominated statewide offices for more than a decade. And they've done so in legislative districts.
Today's state Senate is 34-12 Republican majority, and the House of Representatives is 88-36 Republican majority. Republicans have had majorities for seven four-year cycles in the Senate, dating to 2000, and 16 two-year cycles in the House, dating to 1994.