Trump Backs Darline Graham in South Carolina Senate Runoff

President Donald Trump will rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to give a final boost to Sen. Darline Graham, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, ahead of the Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate seat. The runoff follows a special primary on August 11 in which Graham led with 33 % of the vote, Rep. Ralph Norman received 25 %, and Rep. Russell Fry earned 20 %. The race tests the strength of Trump’s endorsement after several of his recent primary picks have lost.

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Lindsey Graham’s death on July 11 created a vacant Senate seat. Darline Graham, a longtime state bureaucrat and former commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, entered the race with no prior elected experience. She finished first in the August 11 primary but fell short of a majority, triggering a runoff. Trump’s endorsement, announced after the primary, has been amplified through phone calls to Graham’s opponents and a promised rally.

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• Primary vote share: Graham 33 %, Norman 25 %, Fry 20 %.

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• Campaign financing: Norman loaned his campaign $1.3 million on Monday and $400,000 the previous week.

Morning Digest: Yet another Trump favorite is stumbling toward the finish line

• Endorsements: Graham has backing from Sen. Tim Scott, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and former GOP officeholders; Norman has support from a Lexington County GOP chairman and a pro-Norman super PAC.

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• Outside spending: Two AI-aligned super PACs and the clean-energy-focused Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC have entered the runoff race.

Morning Digest: Yet another Trump favorite is stumbling toward the finish line

Trump called at least two of Graham’s primary opponents—Rep. Russell Fry and former Gov. Mark Sanford—on the night of August 11, urging them to back Graham; sources said Fry waited three days before endorsing. Graham’s campaign framed her debate misstep as a focus on “affordability” over foreign-policy issues, emphasizing her willingness to learn. Sen. Tim Scott and Lt. Gov. Evette publicly endorsed Graham, reinforcing the Trump-aligned coalition.

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Businessman Mark Lynch, who ran against Sen. Heritage Foundation head Kevin Roberts, labeled Graham’s debate answer “embarrassing and inexcusable.” Dorchester County GOP Chairman CJ Westfall noted that “hardcore Republicans” reacted strongly to the gaffe, suggesting the debate marked a turning point for intra-party skepticism. Rep. Nancy Mace highlighted Graham’s factual error about South Carolina’s population, calling the moment “unbelievable” for the Senate race.

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• “I’m just going to be honest here,” — Sen. Darline Graham

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• “South Carolinians do not want ‘Queen Darline’ appointed as their senator by D.C. special interests and Democrat PACs,” — Mark Lynch

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• “The people who were watching that are the hardcore Republicans,” — CJ Westfall

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• “Fact is, I’ve done more in 20 days than you have done in 20 years,” — Darline Graham

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The runoff election is scheduled for later in August. Both campaigns continue to mobilize donors and super-PAC support, while Trump’s rally in Myrtle Beach is expected to draw national attention. The outcome will indicate whether Trump’s endorsement can still sway Republican voters in a state where several of his recent picks have faltered.

Morning Digest: Yet another Trump favorite is stumbling toward the finish line