Sen. Darline Graham projected to win runoff in South Carolina GOP Senate primary, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman
Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina on Tuesday night, CBS News projects, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman in the special primary to replace Graham's late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, on the ballot this November.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman, with President Trump's support, setting up a November contest against Dr. Annie Andrews.
Sen. Darline Graham won a special election in South Carolina to replace her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, in the Senate. She defeated Rep. Ralph Norman with the support of President Trump. Graham's experience and ability to serve a full term in the Senate were key factors in her victory.
Analysis
Darline Graham's Path to Victory
Sen. Darline Graham's win in the Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina on Tuesday night was a significant upset, as she defeated Rep. Ralph Norman with the support of President Trump. Graham's victory came after a sprint to replace her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, on the ballot this November. Lindsey Graham, a four-term senator who had been seeking reelection, died suddenly last month, prompting a special primary election to replace him. Graham's win sets up a November contest against Dr. Annie Andrews, who won the Democratic primary in June. The seat is expected to remain in GOP control, as South Carolinians haven't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998. President Trump's endorsement of Graham was a key factor in her victory, as he campaigned for her in South Carolina last week and hosted a tele-rally on Monday. Trump's PAC spent more than $800,000 on phone calls to South Carolina voters for Graham, according to the Federal Election Commission. Graham's victory speech thanked the president, saying, 'Our victory would not have been possible without you, and we are truly grateful.'
Graham's Experience and Approach
Graham's experience and ability to serve a full term in the Senate appeared to be at the center of the primary. She touted decades of experience working for South Carolina, including most recently serving as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. Graham likened her work ethic to her brother's, and credited their hardworking parents who ran a bar and liquor store in central South Carolina for modeling that ethic. However, Graham struggled to answer a debate question regarding Taiwan and the South China Sea last week, saying she was 'not that informed on national security.' This answer underscored a key question in the contest, as South Carolinians considered whether to back the less-experienced candidate as their nominee. Graham vowed to carry on her brother's legacy, but also emphasized that she would bring her own approach to the Senate.
Norman's Conservative Credentials
Rep. Ralph Norman, on the other hand, touted his credentials as a conservative legislator. The 73-year-old real estate developer, who's represented South Carolina in the House since 2017, drew a line between himself and Graham in the short-lived primary fight, calling her an 'unknown candidate.' However, Graham pulled off a win in the runoff with the president's support. Mr. Trump acknowledged that he 'asked her to do this,' saying, 'I said, 'Darline, you gotta do it.' Because everyone loves her, everyone respects her… I think Lindsey respected Darline more than any other person he knows, including me.'
Key points
- Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman.
- Graham's victory came after a sprint to replace her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, on the ballot this November.
- President Trump's endorsement of Graham was a key factor in her victory.
- Graham's experience and ability to serve a full term in the Senate were key factors in her victory.
- The seat is expected to remain in GOP control, as South Carolinians haven't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998.
With President Trump's support, Sen. Darline Graham's victory sets up a November contest against Dr. Annie Andrews, and the seat is expected to remain in GOP control. Graham's experience and ability to serve a full term in the Senate will likely be key factors in her re-election bid.
However, Graham's struggles with foreign policy questions, such as her answer regarding Taiwan and the South China Sea, may be a concern for her re-election bid. Additionally, the Democratic primary winner, Dr. Annie Andrews, may be a strong challenger in the November contest.
