U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman and interim Senator Darline Graham are competing in a special Republican primary runoff Tuesday to determine who will replace the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Senate. The runoff comes a month after Lindsey Graham's death on July 11.
Darline Graham, the late senator's sister, is a political newcomer who was appointed to fill the vacancy. She has focused on aligning herself with President Donald Trump and his policies. Trump endorsed Graham before she officially entered the race and held a rally for her prior to the runoff. The pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. also recently infused nearly $830,000 into her campaign.
Norman, who has served for nearly two decades in state and federal elected office, is emphasizing his legislative experience. He previously ran unsuccessfully for governor earlier this year. Norman has secured endorsements from figures such as Sens. Rick Scott and Mike Lee, and the conservative group Turning Point Action.
During the runoff campaign, Norman has criticized Graham's campaign, suggesting she is beholden to "Washington elite" special interests. He has also pointed to Graham's performance in a recent debate where she admitted national security "is not my thing" and that she was "not that informed on national security." Norman stated that Taiwan is a "definite ally" when asked about the U.S. national security interest in the region.
Graham, in turn, has highlighted her commitment to Trump's policy agenda, particularly a voting bill that is a priority for the president. She has also reminded voters that she remained in Washington working on their behalf during her obligations as a sitting senator.
The winner of Tuesday's runoff will advance to the November general election. Annie Andrews, a physician, won the Democratic primary outright and has pivoted her campaign to broadly critique the Republican contenders, as no Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades. The late Sen. Lindsey Graham last won his seat in 2020 by a 10-percentage-point margin in a race that was among the most expensive congressional contests in U.S. history.