Updated 1w+ ago · Politics
Darline Graham advances to GOP Senate runoff in South Carolina.
South Carolina Republicans vote Tuesday in a nine-candidate special Senate primary. No candidate is widely expected to clear the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff.
- 33 percent: Graham's share in an August 9 Quantus Insights poll of 636 likely voters.
- 22 percent: Norman's lead in an Emerson College poll of likely Republican primary voters.
- Prediction markets gave Graham roughly a 46-48 percent chance of winning the nomination.
- Trump endorsed Graham on July 17, six days after her appointment.
Why it matters: The contest is unusual for a Trump-era red-state primary: none of the leading candidates offers him a straightforward ally.
- Graham did not vote in Trump's 2024 presidential primary or the 2016 general election, per state records.
- Rep. Ralph Norman endorsed Nikki Haley over Trump in 2024; former Gov. Mark Sanford ran against Trump in the 2020 presidential primary.
How 47 sources split on this story
Source landscape
Factuality
High
Mixed
Low
Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right
Political Bias
Coverage by lean
47 sources · 78 articles · 36% Center coverage
Where they split: The core dispute is whether Trump's backing can overcome Graham's lack of political experience and thin movement credentials against better-known rivals.
Center coverage, 17 sources: The center presents the primary as one of several competitive Tuesday contests, noting the structural uncertainty — a crowded field, polling spread, and runoff rules — without a strong verdict on Trump's influence.
Yahoo News1w+Democratic socialist loses out in Wisconsin, Darline Graham falls short of majority, Trump pick defeated in Minnesota — today's key primary resultsJerusalem Post1w+Darline Graham advances to runoff, vows to carry on brother Lindsey’s fight in US SenateNewsweek1w+Annie Andrews' chances of defeating Republicans to flip South CarolinaReuters1w+USA/Caroline du Sud Darline Graham, la soeur de Lindsey Graham, au second tour des primaires républicaines pour le SénatRoll Call1w+Darline Graham will face Ralph Norman in South Carolina Senate runoffAssociated Press1w+South Carolina Republicans hold primary to pick Senate replacement for the late Lindsey GrahamBloomberg1w+Graham, Norman Head to S.C. GOP Senate Runoff, DDHQ ProjectsForbes1w+Lindsey Graham’s Sister Darline Advances To GOP Primary Runoff For His Former SeatThe Hill1w+Graham, Norman advance to runoff in South Carolina GOP primary for SenateThe National Desk1w+Election Day: SC republicans head to the polls in special U.S Senate PrimaryTimes of Israel1w+Sister of pro-Israel stalwart Lindsey Graham advances to runoff in GOP Senate primaryUSA Today1w+South Carolina special election heads to runoff: See full resultsAxios1w+South Carolina GOP Senate primary heads to a runoffCTV News1w+Darline Graham advances to GOP U.S. Senate runoff to replace late brotherNPR1w+In South Carolina, GOP Voters decide who they want to replace the late Sen. Lindsey GrahamPBS NewsHour1w+Live Results: South Carolina special primary election to replace Sen. Lindsey GrahamSemafor1w+Graham tries to hang on to her late brother’s Senate seat
Left coverage, 13 sources: The left frames the race as evidence that Trump's political grip is weakening, highlighting his near-failure in South Carolina's June governor's primary and the awkward voting records of his preferred candidates.
Raw Story1w+Trump's grip on crucial Senate race slips: 'I still don’t know who I’m voting for'AlterNet1w+Trump on collision course with Republicans in bruising red state primaryCNN1w+Live results: South Carolina Senate Republican special primaryMSNBC1w+Darline Graham would carry on the worst of Lindsey Graham’s legacyNBC News1w+Appointed Sen. Darline Graham advances to GOP Senate primary runoff in South CarolinaPolitical Wire1w+South Carolina Republican Senate Primary Heads to RunoffABC News1w+Darline Graham faces battle for her brother's seat in South Carolina senate primaryAl Jazeera1w+What to know about South Carolina’s election to replace Lindsey GrahamNew York Magazine1w+The Scramble for Lindsey Graham’s Senate SeatSlate1w+Want to Know Who Comes After Donald Trump? Keep an Eye on Today’s GOP Primary.Talking Points Memo1w+Ralph Norman Doesn’t Completely Embarrass HimselfThe Boston Globe1w+South Carolina Republicans hold primary to pick Senate replacement for the late Lindsey GrahamThe New Yorker1w+South Carolina Primary-Election Map: Live Results
Right coverage, 17 sources: The right focuses on the competitive dynamics and polling data, treating Graham's Trump endorsement and NRSC backing as meaningful advantages while acknowledging the unsettled field.
Washington Examiner1w+Darline Graham advances to runoff in bid to replace brother in SenateBreitbart News1w+Graham, Norman Advance to Runoff in South Carolina U.S. Senate GOP PrimaryDaily Mail1w+Lindsey Graham's sister advances to runoff election in race to replace her late brotherFox News1w+South Carolina GOP Senate showdown heads to runoff in race to succeed Lindsey GrahamJust the News1w+Darline Graham advances to runoff in SC Senate primary: APThe Epoch Times1w+Darline Graham Advances to GOP Senate Runoff in South CarolinaThe Washington Times1w+Trump-endorsed Graham advances, will face Norman for brother's Senate seatTownhall1w+LIVE PRIMARY RESULTS: Voters in Six States Head to the PollsNew York Post1w+Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline, advances to runoff in GOP battle for late senator's SC Senate seatNTD1w+Darline Graham, Ralph Norman Advance to GOP Senate Runoff in South CarolinaPJ Media1w+Ten Candidates Battled: Today Tells Us Who's Left in South Carolina Senate RaceRedState1w+Darline Graham, Ralph Norman Advance to South Carolina GOP Senate Primary RunoffThe Center Square1w+Republican primary to succeed Graham heads to runoffThe Daily Caller1w+Will South Carolina Enter A Post-Graham Era?The Daily Wire1w+Trump’s Endorsement Propels Darline Graham Into High-Stakes Senate RunoffThe Gateway Pundit1w+JUST IN: Trump-Endorsed Darline Graham Advances in South Carolina Senate Republican Special Election Primary * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina LailaThe Right Scoop1w+UPDATE: And here’s her opponent! – BREAKING: Darline Graham ADVANCES!
What’s next: Trump held a tele-rally for Graham on Monday night before Tuesday's vote.
- A senior White House official said no dual-endorsement strategy for a runoff has been discussed.
- If a runoff occurs, will Trump endorse a second candidate as he did in June's governor's race?
- Can Graham's Washington schedule and limited campaign trail presence hurt her in a compressed race?
View all