Sen. Darline Graham comfortably won her runoff Tuesday night, becoming the Republican nominee for the seat her older brother held for 23 years. With almost all of the vote counted, Graham led Rep. Ralph Norman 52% to 48%.
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Graham received strong backing from President Donald Trump, who urged South Carolina’s governor to appoint her to the seat after Lindsey Graham’s death last month.
“I continue to miss Lindsey every day, and there is still a big hole in my heart,” Graham told supporters gathered in Columbia, the state capital. “Our victory would not have been possible without you, and we are truly grateful. South Carolina is truly Trump Country.”
In victory, Graham overcame a potentially critical gaffe from an Aug. 18 debate. Responding to a question about U.S. national security priorities in Asia she said, “I’m just going to be honest here. I am not that informed on national security.”
The remark was seized on by her opponents, but she countered by telling audiences her focus remained on domestic issues.
The president’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., poured more than $800,000 into the state to support Graham in the two weeks between the primary election and Tuesday’s runoff. That left her opponent, Norman, sounding bitter when he spoke to supporters and conceded the race Tuesday night.
“The president got involved – he has that right, that’s his prerogative,” he said, as some in the crowd booed at the mention of the president’s name. “His policies are good. I never understood why he got in this race.”
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Graham will face Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in November’s general election.
Reversing a Losing Streak
The results in South Carolina and in Oklahoma – where Trump’s preferred candidate, Mike Mazzei, narrowly won a gubernatorial runoff – were a reminder of the sway the president still holds within his party. Just last week, Trump-endorsed candidates lost primaries for Wyoming’s governorship and two House races in Florida. Earlier this month, My Pillow founder Mike Lindell fell short in the GOP primary for Minnesota governor.
Trump’s investment in Graham was especially noteworthy because MAGA Inc. has spent very little money so far this cycle. Last week, it was reported to have over $400 million in cash and to be pulling in millions more each month while spending practically nothing. A major question surrounding November’s midterms is whether, and to what extent, that will change.
A Potential Complication in Alaska
Meanwhile, it appears that Alaskans will have two Dan Sullivans on their Senate ballot in November. Early Wednesday morning, The Associated Press announced that Dan Sullivan, a retired teacher who shares the same name as the state’s incumbent Republican senator, has secured a spot on November’s general election ballot.
Under Alaska’s open primary system, the top four candidates regardless of party advance to the general election. It quickly became clear after last week’s primary that the incumbent Sen. Sullivan had made it onto the final ballot along with his main challenger, former Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat.
The state’s Republican Party had tried for months to keep Sullivan, the retired teacher, off the ballot, accusing him of not being a serious candidate or even of being a Democratic plant designed to confuse voters. The Democratic Party and Peltola campaign have denied this.
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The final slot on the November ballot is still to be determined.
