Trump-Backed Darline Graham Faces Ralph Norman in Senate Runoff

Republican primary runoffs held on August 25 in South Carolina and Oklahoma served as a test of Donald Trump's influence over party voters. In South Carolina, Trump heavily endorsed Senator Darline Graham, a political novice and former optician who was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster on July 13 to fill the seat of her late brother, Lindsey Graham.

Graham faces U.S. Representative Ralph Norman in a special primary runoff. While Trump personally recruited Graham and campaigned for her in Myrtle Beach, Norman has criticized her lack of experience, calling her a "propped-up candidate." Graham's campaign faced further scrutiny after a debate gaffe in which she admitted she was not informed on national security issues. Despite this, she has aligned herself with Trump's agenda and supported the SAVE America Act.

Recent polling from the Trafalgar Group showed the race as a tie, with both candidates at approximately 48%. South Carolina reported unusually high turnout for the runoff, exceeding numbers from the primary held two weeks prior. The winner will advance to the general election to face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews.

Simultaneously, in Oklahoma, Trump and Governor Kevin Stitt endorsed Mike Mazzei for governor over Attorney General Gentner Drummond. That race centered on a controversial $4 billion aluminum smelter project backed by the Trump administration and supported by Mazzei.