Voters in South Carolina are heading to the polls Tuesday for a special Republican primary runoff election to determine who will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November for the U.S. Senate seat once held by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The contest features Darline Graham, the late senator's sister and a political newcomer, against Rep. Ralph Norman, a staunch conservative.
Darline Graham has positioned her lack of political experience as an advantage, emphasizing her outsider status and highlighting President Donald Trump's endorsement. Trump held a rally in Myrtle Beach on Friday to support her bid, one of his early campaign stops for the 2026 midterm elections. "Now, the critics say I shouldn't run for the Senate. They say I'm not a politician. You know what I say? Guilty as charged," Graham said at the rally, drawing a parallel to Trump's own path to the presidency. Trump praised Graham, stating she "only knows how to put America first."
Norman, in contrast, is campaigning on his experience, urging voters to trust him over a less-familiar candidate. "The establishment has already picked their candidate. Same old playbook, same old insiders. I'm not their choice. And this election is not for sale," he said in a campaign ad. Norman has also questioned Trump's involvement in a Republican-leaning state like South Carolina, suggesting the president should focus on races where the GOP faces a tougher challenge.
Graham has faced criticism from some fellow Republicans regarding her limited political background and occasional stumbles on the campaign trail. During a recent debate, when asked about national security issues concerning Taiwan and the South China Sea, she stated, "I'm not that informed on national security. But I do support the military ... I'm not a polished politician up here. National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military." This comment, contrasting with her brother's focus on national security, drew criticism from Norman's allies, including former Gov. Nikki Haley, who noted that "Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States' national security. Darline Graham admits she's not."
Norman echoed this sentiment, calling Graham's answer "surprising" and stating, "There's no more important issue than national security ... there's no time for training on the job." Graham acknowledged she "tripped up on one question" but pivoted to focus on voters' immediate concerns, such as the economy. "To me, as I've walked around this room and I've asked people, 'Are y'all concerned about Taiwan?' You know what they said? No, they're concerned about the price of groceries, the price of gas, rising healthcare costs," she told attendees, adding that she believes national security is important and she will gain more knowledge on the subject.
Political scientist David Woodard, who has managed some of Lindsey Graham's early campaigns, anticipates low turnout for the runoff, suggesting that voters participating are likely the most engaged Republicans. He noted that while some voters initially felt sympathy for Darline Graham, others now find Norman more credible on key issues. However, some voters find Trump's endorsement and Graham's focus on economic issues compelling. Mike Funderburk, a contractor from Neeses, South Carolina, stated his willingness to give Graham the "benefit of the doubt" on her learning curve, with the economy being his primary concern.