Darline Graham, appointed interim senator after her brother Lindsey Graham’s July 2026 death, faced Rep. Ralph Norman in the August 25 Republican runoff to secure the party nomination for the safely Republican South Carolina seat. Trump’s early endorsement, Myrtle Beach rally, and MAGA Inc. super PAC spending exceeding $827,000 on voter outreach proved decisive in overcoming Graham’s limited prior elected experience and a debated foreign-policy stumble. She finished first in the August 11 special primary with roughly 33 percent, advancing to the runoff where she secured 52.5 percent to Norman’s 47.5 percent across nearly all precincts. The narrow margin reflected divided conservative support despite Graham’s name recognition and temporary incumbency advantage. The general election against Democrat Annie Andrews follows on November 3.