Lindsey Graham's sister advances to runoff in South Carolina Republican Senate primary

COLUMBIA: Lindsey Graham's sister Darline Graham has advanced to a run-off primary to become the Republican nominee for South Carolina's US Senate seat in November's election, according to media projections. She will face US Representative Ralph Norman in the Aug 25 runoff. The eventual Republican nominee is favored to win in November.

Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to serve as the remainder of her late brother's term through early January. President Donald Trump endorsed Darline Graham for a full six-year term, calling it a "fabulous tribute" to her brother. Critics argue her bid relies on family name recognition and presidential backing without a political record of her own, resembling an attempted coronation.

Graham stated she is not being handed the seat and acknowledges she needs to earn votes. Ten candidates contested the Republican nomination in Tuesday's election, and none gained over 50 percent of the vote. The top two finishers, Graham and US Representative Ralph Norman, will face off in the run-off. With 80 percent of the vote counted, the Associated Press placed Graham first with 32.6 percent of the vote and Norman second with just over 24 percent.

In Alabama, Republicans in the 2nd Congressional District are projected to choose state representative Rhett Marques as their candidate, seen as crucial to flipping the seat from Democrats with help from a redrawn map. The race could be pivotal for Trump's agenda, but he faces challenges in the upcoming midterm elections due to low approval ratings and high gasoline prices.

Republican-led states in the US South rushed to redraw congressional districts after a Supreme Court decision weakened the Voting Rights Act. Marques faces incumbent Democrat Shomari Figures, who is Black and seeking a second term. Lindsey Graham won his June 9 primary in South Carolina by nearly 28 percentage points, seeking his fifth Senate term.