South Carolina voters headed to the polls on Tuesday, August 25th, 2026, for a special primary runoff election to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The race features Darline Graham, a political newcomer appointed to finish Lindsey Graham's term, and Representative Ralph Norman, a staunch conservative and member of the Freedom Caucus.

Darline Graham has emphasized her outsider status as an advantage, highlighting the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Trump not only endorsed her on social media but also held a rally in Myrtle Beach on Friday, marking one of his first major campaign stops during the 2026 midterms. At the rally, Darline Graham acknowledged criticisms of her political inexperience, stating, "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," to cheers.

She admitted to "tripping up on one question" during an interview with Fox News but told voters that their primary concerns were domestic issues like the price of groceries, gas, and healthcare costs rather than international matters such as Taiwan. Graham said, "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."

Representative Ralph Norman has argued that conservatives in South Carolina can trust him more than the relatively unknown Darline Graham. He noted that while some voters initially sympathized with Darline serving out Lindsey Graham's term, many now believe Norman "has credibility on issues that Darline lacks."

The winner of the runoff will face Democratic candidate Annie Andrews in the November general election.

Sources