Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) speaks during a campaign event following her win, at the Willoughby, Humphrey & D'Antonio Law Firm on August 25, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. Graham faced Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) in a runoff in the South Carol …
Darline Graham has won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman after a close runoff election to determine the GOP nominee for the seat vacated after the passing of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Dig deeper:
Graham’s victory comes after President Donald Trump’s endorsement, giving him another political win in a state where his influence remains strong. Trump campaigned with her and urged Republican voters there to support her bid for a full term.
South Carolina has been a firm Republican state for years, making the race a difficult challenge for Democrats. Darline’s brother, Lindsey, represented the state in the Senate since 2003, winning reelection in 2020 by about 10 percentage points.
What's next:
The Republican nomination now puts Graham as the favorite heading into the November general election, where she’ll face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews.
President Trump’s endorsement
Graham’s campaign received a major boost from Trump, who publicly encouraged her to run after her appointment to the Senate. Trump’s backing became a central feature of the campaign, with the president campaigning on Graham’s behalf as she sought to overcome questions on her lack of political experience.
MAGA Inc., a Trump super PAC, also spent heavily on the race. The Associated Press reported about $827,000 spent in support of Graham on the final day of the runoff campaign.
The other side:
Rep. Norman argued that his congressional experience made him a better candidate, more prepared for the Senate. Graham responded, argued her support for the president’s agenda, also focusing on immigration, abortion and domestic economic concerns.
Who is Darline Graham?
The backstory:
Darline Graham is a longtime advocate for disability rights and lived a quiet life with her family in Columbia, South Carolina until she decided to run for the Senate.
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According to The New York Times, Graham is a mother of two and recently worked as commissioner of a state agency for blind residents. Individuals who worked with Graham describe her as skilled at developing relationships, making a substantial impact on behalf of people with disabilities.
Darline and Lindsey Graham formed a close bond after losing both their parents in a little over a year, when she was 13 and he 22 years old. Lindsay later became his sister’s legal guardian.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by the Associated Press and previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX. This story was reported from Orlando.