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Darline Graham, the appointed successor to late Sen. Lindsey Graham, has secured a spot in a two-week runoff election after failing to capture 50% of the vote in South Carolina’s Republican primary, according to the Associated Press. The special primary field featured Rep. Ralph Norman, Rep. Russell Fry, and former Gov. Mark Sanford, among other candidates. The contest marks the first major electoral test following Lindsey Graham’s unexpected death one month prior at age 71.
Gov. Henry McMaster tapped Graham to complete the remainder of her brother’s Senate term through the end of the year. President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Graham underscores his continued influence within the Republican Party and his track record in GOP primary contests. Both Norman and Fry, House members with strong Trump ties, emphasized their support for the president throughout their campaigns.
Sanford, a former governor who mounted an unsuccessful 2020 presidential challenge to Trump, centered his Senate bid on fiscal conservatism and concerns over national debt. Businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to Lindsey Graham by nearly 30 percentage points in June’s general primary, also competed in the crowded field.
Trump’s endorsement record in South Carolina has shown mixed results this cycle. The president backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for the gubernatorial nomination ahead of June’s primary, but Evette lost decisively to Attorney General Alan Wilson in the subsequent runoff despite Trump later endorsing Wilson as well.
The Senate runoff winner will enter November’s general election as the presumed favorite against Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician.
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