South Carolina U.S. Senate runoff election will test Trump's endorsement
Key Points:
- South Carolina Republicans are holding a runoff election between Sen. Darline Graham and Congressman Ralph Norman to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham on the November ballot after no candidate won outright in the special primary.
- President Trump has heavily invested in the race by endorsing Darline Graham, holding a rally for her, and having his super PAC spend over $827,000 on her behalf, making it a key test of his influence in the state.
- Darline Graham, appointed by the governor to fill her brother's seat, leans on Lindsey Graham's legacy but lacks political experience and faced criticism for her limited knowledge on national security during a debate.
- Ralph Norman, a five-term Congressman and former gubernatorial candidate, positions himself as an experienced underdog and has backing from former Governor Nikki Haley, who is running for president in 2024.
- The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November, with the seat expected to remain safely Republican.