Appointed Senator Darline Graham and Representative Ralph Norman have moved forward to a runoff election in the special Republican Senate primary in South Carolina. This decision follows the Associated Press’s report that no candidate achieved over 50% of the vote. As a result, Graham and Norman will compete in a runoff in two weeks. The primary replaced the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away at 71.
Several candidates, including Representative Russell Fry and former Governor and Representative Mark Sanford, did not secure enough votes in Tuesday’s primary. The election took place exactly one month after the veteran senator’s unexpected death.
This nomination race serves as the latest evaluation of former President Donald Trump’s strong influence within the GOP and his endorsement power in Republican primaries. Trump endorsed Darline Graham, the late senator’s younger sister. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster had previously appointed Graham to serve the remainder of the Senate term ending this year.
Graham stated her intention to help advance President Trump’s agenda as she participated in voting. Representative Norman, who previously campaigned for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, is also aligned with Trump. Norman and Fry, another two-term congressman, expressed their support for Trump’s policies during their Senate campaigns.
Former Governor Mark Sanford, known for his fiscally conservative stance, launched his campaign with a focus on addressing the national debt. However, he was unsuccessful in advancing to the runoff. The GOP field also included businessman Mark Lynch, who was defeated by Lindsey Graham in a previous primary by a significant margin.
The Trump endorsement in South Carolina has faced challenges. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, endorsed by Trump for the gubernatorial nomination, lost the runoff due to a significant defeat by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Trump had endorsed Wilson alongside Evette days before the runoff.
The winner of the upcoming runoff will likely be the leading candidate against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the midterms. This election outcome will be pivotal in assessing both the political dynamics within South Carolina and the broader midterm elections across the country.