Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina on Tuesday night, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman and securing the seat previously held by her late brother, Lindsey Graham, according to Decision Desk HQ projections.
The race was closer than many expected, with Graham taking about 52% of the vote to Norman’s 48%, per early results cited by TV News Now. Decision Desk HQ called the race at 8:38 PM EDT.
Trump Endorsement Proves Decisive
Graham’s victory is being framed by observers as another win for former President Donald Trump’s endorsement, which she carried into the runoff. “This proves that a Trump endorsement is STILL a winning ticket!” tweeted DeVory Darkins, echoing a sentiment shared by several conservative commentators as results came in.
TV News Now confirmed the win, noting that Graham “really has led this race tonight from the very first update.” The outlet also highlighted that Graham will “hold her late brother Lindsey Graham’s seat” after the victory.
The race drew national attention as a test of MAGA influence in the Palmetto State, with Norman, a congressman from the 5th District, mounting a strong challenge that narrowed the margin in the final stretch.
Some critics, including FOX News’ Lawrence Jones, had reportedly doubted Graham’s prospects, but Tuesday’s outcome proved them wrong, according to The Gateway Pundit.
Graham’s win sets up a general election campaign in November, where she will face the Democratic nominee in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in decades.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/darline-graham-wins-gop-primary-south-carolina-senate/