Donald Trump Campaigns for Darline Graham in Senate Runoff

President Donald Trump is campaigning aggressively for Senator Darline Graham in a South Carolina Republican primary runoff scheduled for August 25. Graham, who was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to finish the term of her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, is seeking a full six-year term. Trump has supported her through rallies in Myrtle Beach, pressure on state officials, and funding via the MAGA Inc. super PAC.

Graham's campaign has faced scrutiny following a televised debate where she admitted she was "not that informed on national security" when questioned about Taiwan. Representative Ralph Norman, a five-term congressman, has used this admission to argue that South Carolina requires a senator with deeper foreign policy experience and a commitment to ending "forever wars." Additionally, a recording surfaced of Graham reacting sharply to an attendee filming her without permission.

Despite these setbacks, Graham maintains the support of Trump and Senator Tim Scott, who have defended her qualifications. Norman faces his own challenges, including scrutiny over a 2021 text message regarding the invocation of martial law to block Joe Biden's inauguration and a previous primary endorsement of Nikki Haley. Graham led the August 11 special primary with 33% of the vote compared to Norman's 25%. The winner of the runoff will face Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews in the November general election.