Donald Trump Can Still Win You a Certain Type of Election

Key Points:

• Darline Graham, recently appointed to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat, won the South Carolina GOP Senate runoff with 52.5% of the vote, securing the Republican nomination for the November election.
• Donald Trump’s endorsement and campaign rally in Myrtle Beach were pivotal in boosting Graham’s support, especially in the Pee Dee region, and increasing voter turnout in the runoff.
• Despite being a political newcomer with a campaign marked by gaffes and limited policy knowledge, Graham benefited from significant financial backing, including an $800,000 intervention by Trump’s super PAC MAGA Inc.
• Graham’s victory reinforces Trump’s influence within the Republican base, even as his overall favorability remains low among the general electorate, posing a challenge for GOP candidates balancing appeals to both the base and swing voters.
• Her opponent, Rep. Ralph Norman, ran as a hard-right conservative but had previously opposed Trump on key issues, which may have contributed to his loss despite his campaign experience and statewide recognition.