Darline Graham Nordone has won the special Republican primary runoff election in South Carolina, securing her party's nomination for the upcoming Senate race. Nordone will face off against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the November election to succeed her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
The special primary election was called after Graham won the Republican primary race for his fifth term as Senator in June, but died the following month. Nordone, who was appointed by South Carolina's Governor to serve out the remainder of her brother's term, secured the highest share of the vote in the initial Aug. 11 primary but did not reach the majority needed to win outright. This triggered a runoff election.
In the Aug. 11 primary, Nordone earned nearly 33% of the vote, while U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman received almost 25%, placing him second and sending both candidates to the runoff.
Nordone's victory in the runoff means she will contend for the Senate seat in a race considered unlikely to shift party control. The Cook Political Report rates the general election contest as "Solid Republican."