South Carolina GOP Senate primary heads to a runoff

Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman advanced to a runoff in South Carolina's Republican Senate primary on Tuesday, according to the AP, extending the race to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The Aug. 25 runoff will likely determine the state's next senator. Graham's campaign has leveraged her incumbency, President Trump's support, and her prominent name.

Norman, 73, argued voters should judge candidates by their records, positioning himself as a proven conservative. The eventual Republican nominee is expected to win the November general election against Democrat Annie Andrews, who has not won a U.S. Senate election there since 1998. The result narrows the nine-candidate contest to the three dominant forces: Graham, Norman, and Rep. Russell Fry.

Graham cast herself as a political outsider who could continue her brother's work while reliably voting with Trump's agenda. She entered the race on July 20, days after being temporarily appointed to the seat by her late brother, Gov. Henry McMaster. Norman, a hard-line conservative and vice chair of the House Freedom Caucus, placed third in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary in June.

He endorsed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the 2024 election and described her as a friend. The runoff will test Trump's influence over the Republican electorate, with both finalists having 14 days to consolidate supporters.