Darline Graham wins South Carolina GOP nomination to replace her late
brother in US Senate
[August 26, 2026]
By MEG KINNARD and JEFFREY COLLINS
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican
nomination to replace her late brother on South Carolina’s general
election ballot, notching another win for President Donald Trump after
he threw his support behind the political novice.
Graham defeated U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s special Republican
primary runoff, two weeks after they were the top two finishers in a
10-way primary.
Despite being a political unknown, Graham bested some of South
Carolina’s top political names in the special election spun up after
Lindsey Graham's sudden death last month. She was appointed by Gov.
Henry McMaster to serve out the remaining months of her late brother’s
current term and swiftly won an endorsement from Trump, who encouraged
her to enter the race for a full term and campaigned for her in the
state last week.
Graham got emotional while addressing her supporters Tuesday night,
saying she misses her brother every day.
“The past few weeks have been an unbelievably challenging time for our
family, but you know what? We did it,” she said.
With McMaster, her family and U.S. Rep. William Timmons looking on,
Graham went on to thank the president for his support and for the
relationship he had with her brother.
“Our victory would not have been possible without you and we are truly
grateful,” she said.
Graham will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November.
On Monday, MAGA Inc., the super PAC that supports Trump and aligned
Republicans — but that has spent little thus far on Trump’s picks in
this year’s midterms — spent nearly $830,000 for voter calls and text
message blasts in support of Graham.
Among the unknowns going into Tuesday was whether Trump’s backing would
be enough to boost the political newcomer with the famous last name, but
whose political positions were previously unidentified, across the
finish line to the nomination.
After losing a top Senate advocate when Lindsey Graham died July 11,
Trump angled to play a role in picking his successor.
Trump heralded the selection of Darline Graham to serve as her brother’s
interim replacement as “a fabulous tribute.” He also urged her to run in
the special primary, endorsing her before she’d made her candidacy
official.
On Friday in Myrtle Beach, Trump reiterated that sentiment to a crowd of
several thousand, encouraging people to vote for Graham to preserve tax
cuts, among other things.
“I want it to happen,” he said. “Good luck, Darline.”
In forging a relationship with her, Trump could be angling to develop
another ally to help steer his agenda through the Senate.
Throughout her brief campaign, Graham did just that. She repeatedly
stressed to voters her intent to support Trump’s policy positions and
often referenced in particular her co-sponsorship of a voting bill
that’s become a key priority for the president.
Norman thanked his supporters at his Tuesday night watch party but
decried Graham taking outside PAC money, and Trump for supporting her.
“I never understood why he got in this race,” Norman said. “It is what
it is and we accept it.”
Casting his ballot for Graham at an early voting location near Trump's
rally site, Robert Tropiano said Friday that the president's backing for
the candidate was enough to win his support.
“Trump wants her, he's doing a great job and I believe we should give
him what he wants,” Tropiano said.
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Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., gives a speech to supporters after
winning a special Republican primary runoff to replace her brother,
the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the November general
election, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg
Kinnard)
Norman promoted legislative know-how over Graham's inexperience
Fresh off his unsuccessful primary run for governor, Norman entered
the Senate contest as one of several politicians more familiar to
South Carolina voters. He snapped up endorsements from the likes of
Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Mike Lee of Utah, as well as former
South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint and Turning Point Action, the
conservative youth movement founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
During the sprint to the runoff, Norman — one of the most
conservative U.S. House members — frequently touted his experience
in Washington and willingness to take unpopular stances. That
includes at times challenging Trump, whose policies Norman has
routinely supported in Congress. But Norman campaigned against Trump
in the early part of the 2024 presidential primary, siding instead
with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
A wealthy developer before he entered politics, Norman put some of
his own fortune toward the campaign, including more than $1 million
in the closing week.
Graham overcomes debate flub
Graham and Norman met for a single runoff debate, and there was one
moment from the hourlong face-off that lived on.
Graham stumbled over a question about foreign policy — a signature
issue of her late brother — when asked whether the U.S. has a
national security interest in Taiwan and the South China Sea, a
longstanding contention of both Democratic and Republican
administrations.
She struggled to answer before admitting “national security is not
my thing” and “I’m not that informed on national security.”
Graham avoided a direct response and instead mentioned her brother’s
wealth of experience and her desire to focus on more domestic issues
like affordability. Norman called Taiwan “a definite ally” when
posed the same question, applauding Trump for “enabling Taiwan to
defend themselves against China.” Afterward, he suggested Graham's
answer showed her lack of qualifications for the office.
Some of that argument landed with Rock Hill voter Mike Sellers, who
said that he voted Tuesday for Norman in part because Graham's
experience level “wasn't really cutting it for me."
Sellers also said he wasn't swayed by the notion of supporting
Graham as a tribute to her late brother.
“Just because her brother was senator doesn’t give her an easy pass
in,” Sellers said. "If she wants to come next time around — maybe
challenge (Sen.) Tim Scott — we’ll look at it then.”
No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades.
When Lindsey Graham last ran in 2020, he defeated his Democratic
opponent by a 10 percentage point margin.
That contest was the most expensive in state history and among the
country’s most expensive congressional races ever.
___
Collins reported from Rock Hill, South Carolina.
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