Graham will face off against Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews in November.
Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) on Aug. 25 defeated Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) in the South Carolina Republican Senate runoff for the seat that was held by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The candidate, backed by President Donald Trump, won with about 52.4 percent of the vote to Norman’s 47.6 percent, with 91 percent of the votes counted when The Associated Press called the race at 9:01 p.m.
Darline Graham will face off against Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews in November. Andrews won her primary on June 9 with about 61.5 percent of the vote. Darline Graham is expected to win the race in November, with nonpartisan elections forecaster Cook Political Report ranking the seat as solid Republican.
Darline Graham was appointed to the post by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster following her brother’s death and a recommendation by Trump.
At a victory event after the results were announced, attended by McMaster, Darline Graham thanked Trump for his support.
“Our victory would not have been possible without you, and we are truly grateful,” she said.
After Darline Graham announced that she would seek a full term, Trump hosted an Aug. 21 rally in Myrtle Beach to encourage voters to back the candidate.
Trump urged voters to consider a vote for Darline Graham as a vote for himself.
“They say again that Trump gets a lot of votes, but if he’s not on the ballot, people don’t vote so much,” he said. “I am on the ballot. We’re all on the ballot. Our country is on the ballot. You have to get out. You have to vote.”
She also had the endorsement of Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), now serving as South Carolina’s senior senator since Lindsey Graham’s death.
Norman is a Seventh Congressional District lawmaker whose tenure in Congress has been marked by public disputes with House leadership.
As a member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus and the House Rules Committee, Norman has often blocked and delayed party-line votes amid budget and other concerns about the state of the federal checkbook.
He also boasted a powerful endorsement in the state: that of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. He was also endorsed by Mark Sanford, a former South Carolina governor and Charleston-area U.S. representative.
By Joseph Lord
