Darline Graham, who was appointed to fill the South Carolina Senate seat left vacant by her brother Lindsey Graham's death in July, has won the Republican runoff to secure the party's nomination for the seat, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman. The victory, secured with the backing of President Donald Trump, means South Carolina Republicans have opted for continuity of the Graham name despite Darline Graham's limited prior political experience, keeping the seat closely tied to Trump's agenda ahead of the general election.

Trump personally urged Graham to run beyond simply completing her brother's term and campaigned for her in Myrtle Beach, saying Lindsey Graham had respected her more than almost anyone else. His political operation, MAGA Inc, also poured over $800,000 into a phone campaign backing her in the final stretch, despite a stumble in her last debate with Norman when she admitted limited knowledge of Taiwan's strategic importance. Graham, who has focused more on domestic issues than foreign policy, pointed to her brief record in Washington, including passage of the Russia and Iran sanctions package and a deciding vote to confirm Attorney General Todd Blanche, arguing she had achieved more in 20 days than Norman had in 20 years in Congress.