Senator Darline Graham advanced to a runoff in the South Carolina special Republican primary held on August 11, 2026, without securing a majority of votes [1, 2, 3]. Graham, appointed in July by Governor Henry McMaster to complete the late Senator Lindsey Graham's term, received about 32.7% in the 10-candidate race [1, 4, 3]. Ralph Norman, a Republican representative, trailed with approximately 24.6% and is expected to be Graham's runoff opponent, though final confirmation is pending [1, 2, 4, 3].
Darline Graham has never held elected office before her appointment but emphasized her executive experience, saying, "I ran a state agency. I turned it from a struggling agency into a national model. I think that’s great experience to bring to the table" [1]. She also cited her brief Senate tenure's legislative work, including passing a Russia sanctions bill and casting the deciding vote for attorney general Todd Blanche, stating, "I was the deciding vote on Todd Blanche as attorney general. So I think I’ve accomplished a whole lot in three weeks" [1]. Graham said she is running to help former President Trump advance his agenda and noted Trump has endorsed her candidacy [1, 5].
Norman has highlighted his record as a proven conservative and enjoys backing from state legislators and an established campaign infrastructure [1, 2, 5]. Other candidates in the primary included Russell Fry, Mark Sanford, and others. Sanford campaigned on concerns over fiscal conservatism and national debt, saying, "I got into this race because I believe our nation is at a financial tipping point" [1].
The next step for the candidates is the runoff election, scheduled for August 25, 2026, which is expected to decide the Republican nominee [1, 2, 4]. The winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the November general election [6, 2]. South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998 and is viewed as reliably Republican in Senate races [2].
Graham said she plans to spend the next two weeks meeting voters and listening to their concerns. "I will spend the next two weeks of this runoff meeting with voters and, unlike some politicians, listening to their concerns," she said [4]. She also expressed hope that Trump might campaign for her in the runoff, adding, "I'm hopeful that President Trump will come down, but we'll see" [4].
