South Carolina Holds Primary Runoff for Open US Senate Seat

South Carolina Republican voters head to the polls Tuesday for a special U.S. Senate primary runoff to select a nominee to fill the seat previously held by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, following his death in July.

Appointed incumbent Sen. Darline Graham, the late senator's sister, faces five-term U.S. Rep.

Ralph Norman after neither candidate secured an outright majority in the Aug. 11 special primary. Graham captured 33% of the vote compared to Norman's 25% in the initial contest, which drew about 336,000 voters.

Graham secured key endorsements from President Donald Trump, state Sen. Tim Scott, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Trump held a campaign rally with Graham in Myrtle Beach on Friday, urging voters to support her as if he were on the ballot.

"On illegal immigration, I'm tougher than he was," said U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, referring to her brother's record during campaign appearances.

Graham faced criticism during the campaign following her performance in the runoff's sole debate when questioned about national security priorities in Taiwan and the South China Sea.

"I'm just going to be honest here. I'm not on national security. I'm not that informed on national security, but I do support the military," said U.S.

Sen. Darline Graham during the debate.

The debate comments prompted responses from congressional peers reviewing the performance of the Trump-backed candidate.

"I'm now regretting I'm not running for the U.S. Senate, Jesus. I can't even," said U.S.

Rep. Nancy Mace on her podcast.

Mace continued her criticism regarding the candidate's grasp of foreign affairs.

"This is who tons of people have endorsed from Congress—a woman who says national security isn't her thing when we're literally on the precipice of China invading Taiwan and we've got billions of dollars of military assets," said U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace.

Norman, a member of the House Freedom Caucus who carried endorsements from former Governors Nikki Haley and Mark Sanford, positioned himself against Graham ahead of the vote.

"She'll get beaten by the Democrat," said U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman at a Friday night town hall.

Norman pointed directly to the televised debate performance as a potential liability for the general election campaign.

"Y'all saw how she debates. The candidate that the Democratic Party has put up is smart," said U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman.

Winthrop University political science professor Scott Huffmon noted that the outcome hinges heavily on voter turnout and candidate motivation among conservative factions.

"Without good, consistent polling, we just have no idea. Identifying likely voters for a runoff for a special primary with less than a month turnaround is a shot in the dark," said Scott Huffmon, political science professor at Winthrop University.

Huffmon highlighted the potential impact of Trump's personal appearance on the campaign trail in the final days.

"Without a Trump visit and her gaffe being the only thing people remember about the debate, she struggles to win. On the other hand, a successful Trump visit could be the lynchpin to her victory. So how successful was it?" said Scott Huffmon.

The professor added that a victory for Norman would signal a shift in how party voters view primary endorsements.

"They may nearly universally believe in his agenda, but be taking back the reins and choosing themselves who to send to Washington to push that agenda on their behalf. We'll see," said Scott Huffmon.

The runoff winner will advance to the fall general election ballot to face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a Charleston pediatrician, for the remainder of the term and the upcoming full six-year term.