Darline Graham secured the Republican nomination for the upcoming US Senate term, with the Associated Press calling the runoff election on August 11, 2026. Graham received 52% of the vote against US Representative Ralph Norman, with 89% of votes counted statewide. This victory ensures that the first elected female US Senator from South Carolina will be sworn into office in January.
In Laurens County, however, voters favored Norman, who garnered 58.63% of the vote compared to Graham’s 41.37%. Voter turnout in Laurens County was just under 16%. Graham, who was sworn in as the appointed senator six weeks prior, will now face Democrat Annie Andrews in the general election.
The 62-year-old sister of the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away on July 11, led the initial 10-candidate primary two weeks earlier with 33% of the vote, while Norman had 25%. Despite some polls showing Norman ahead before the runoff, Graham’s candidacy was strongly supported by President Donald Trump, who urged her to seek the six-year term as a tribute to her brother. Trump’s endorsement included a tele-rally and a rally in Myrtle Beach, where he encouraged supporters to vote for Graham as if his own name were on the ballot.
Norman, who was first elected to the state House in 2004 and won two previous special elections, including the 2017 race for Congress, highlighted his two decades of elected office experience. He contrasted his record as a proven conservative with Graham’s lack of political experience. Graham, in turn, embraced her non-politician status, stating she was not a career politician and pointing to 30 years of experience in state government, including seven years leading the state Commission for the Blind. Governor Henry McMaster, who appointed Graham last month for the term ending in January, also endorsed her for the full term, emphasizing the importance of keeping the Senate seat Republican.
