Senator Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC), endorsed by President Donald Trump, has advanced to a runoff election to fill the South Carolina Senate seat previously held by her late brother, Lindsey Graham. The runoff will take place on August 25, following a special primary election where neither candidate received the majority of votes. With 82% of ballots counted, Graham Nordone secured 33% of the vote, while Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) received 24%. Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC) came in third with 20%.
To avoid a runoff, a candidate must achieve over 50% of the vote, as stipulated by South Carolina law. This runoff is the second major GOP race in South Carolina this summer, following a gubernatorial runoff in June. Graham Nordone was appointed to complete her brother's Senate term after his unexpected death last month. Trump initially supported her as a caretaker before endorsing her for a full term on July 17.
The race saw speculation about potential candidates, including Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and former Governor Nikki Haley, both of whom ultimately chose not to run. The field narrowed down to Graham Nordone, Fry, and Norman, along with other candidates who previously lost in the primaries. Graham Nordone's opponents have raised concerns about her past leadership in South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind, alleging she promoted diversity and equity policies and increased her own compensation. In response, she defended her record, stating her focus was on helping individuals with disabilities find employment.