Trump's Pick Struggles in Graham Senate Primary
Trump's Pick Struggles in Graham Senate Primary
The News
South Carolina Republicans vote Tuesday in a special primary to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham — and President Trump's endorsed candidate is struggling to lock down the seat.
Trump backed Darline Graham, the senator's sister, but no leading candidate offers him a clear ally, an unusual dynamic for a red-state primary in the Trump era.
No candidate is widely expected to clear the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff.
Timeline
Lindsey Graham, one of Trump's closest allies, died suddenly; three days later his sister Darline Graham was sworn in to complete his term.
On July 17, six days after her appointment, Trump endorsed Darline Graham for a full six-year term.
On August 9, a Quantus Insights poll of 636 likely voters put Graham at 33 percent.
On Monday night, August 10, Trump held a tele-rally for Graham ahead of Tuesday's vote.
Polls open Tuesday, August 11, with 10 Republicans on the ballot.
Reactions
An Emerson College poll of likely Republican primary voters showed Rep. Ralph Norman leading with 22 percent.
Skeptics note Graham's thin movement credentials: state records show she did not vote in Trump's 2024 presidential primary or the 2016 general election.
Her rivals bring their own friction with Trump — Norman endorsed Nikki Haley over him in 2024, and former Gov. Mark Sanford ran against Trump in the 2020 presidential primary.
What's Next
With a runoff seen as likely, the question is whether Trump would endorse a second candidate, as he did in June's governor's race.
A senior White House official said no dual-endorsement strategy for a runoff has been discussed.
The eventual Republican nominee will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November.
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