Sen. Darline Graham advanced to a special Republican primary runoff to fill the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s seat, leading with 32.7% of the vote with 99% counted. She will face Rep. Ralph Norman, who received 24.6%, in an August 25 runoff. Graham thanked former President Trump for his endorsement, touted the passage of a Russia sanctions bill as an early accomplishment and said she will spend the runoff meeting voters. Betting markets currently give her roughly a 72–73% chance of securing the GOP nomination.
Darline Graham Advances to GOP Runoff to Fill Late Brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate Seat
Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks to reporters after advancing to a special GOP Senate primary runoff to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Tuesday.
Sen. Darline Graham, R‑S.C., advanced to a special Republican primary runoff on Tuesday night as she seeks a full term in the U.S. Senate after being appointed to complete the remainder of her brother Sen. Lindsey Graham’s term following his sudden death last month.
With 99% of precincts reported, The Associated Press projected Graham into the runoff, showing she led the field with 32.7% of the vote. Rep. Ralph Norman, R‑S.C., qualified for the runoff with 24.6%. The runoff is scheduled for August 25.
In brief remarks after the call, Graham — running in a major statewide contest for the first time — thanked former President Donald Trump for what she described as his "steadfast support and his complete and total endorsement." She also highlighted her role in the Senate’s passage of a Russia sanctions bill as an early legislative accomplishment, saying some lawmakers "never get a major piece of their legislation passed, so I've already accomplished more in a few weeks."
"I will spend the next two weeks of this runoff meeting with voters and, unlike some politicians, listening to their concerns," Graham said, signaling a retail-focused campaign approach.
Rep. Ralph Norman, a senior member of the House Freedom Caucus, said he welcomed the extra two weeks to take his message across the state and pushed for multiple debates with Graham ahead of the August contest. Graham said she would be willing to debate Norman.
Given South Carolina’s Republican tilt, the winner of the GOP runoff is widely expected to be the frontrunner in the general election for the seat. Crypto prediction markets gave Graham an edge: Polymarket traders put her chances at about 72%, while Kalshi’s markets showed roughly 73% odds.
Reporting note: Initial projections were made by The Associated Press. This article was originally published on Forbes.com.
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