Graham and Norman face South Carolina GOP Senate runoff
South Carolina voters returned to the polls Tuesday for a Republican runoff to decide the party’s nominee for the Senate seat left vacant by the late Lindsey Graham. The contest pits interim Sen. Darline Graham, appointed after her brother’s death, against Rep. Ralph Norman, a longtime member of Congress. Neither candidate secured a majority in the August 11 primary, prompting the runoff. Graham has received endorsements from Sen. Tim Scott and Governor Henry McMaster, while Norman has highlighted his legislative record. The winner will face the Democratic nominee in the general election.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning outlets covered this 8h later
- Right-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
Why it matters
The runoff will determine which candidate represents the Republican Party in the upcoming Senate race, shaping the balance of power in Washington.
How this story developed
- Aug 17 Midterm outlook shifts as key Senate and governor contests turn competitive
- Aug 22 The Cook Political Report updated its ratings for the Texas and Iowa Senate contests.
- Aug 24 Oklahoma will hold runoff elections on Tuesday to choose a Republican governor nominee, a Democratic Senate candidate, and decide two statewide ballot questions.
- Aug 24 A runoff election has been scheduled for Tuesday.
- Aug 24 Early voting for the runoff recorded 63,712 ballots, slightly ahead of the 61,775 cast in the primary.
- Aug 24 Make America Great Again Inc. has committed almost $828,000 to support Darline Graham Nordone in the South Carolina Senate GOP primary runoff against Ralph Norman.
- Aug 25 Tuesday runoff election was held to select the GOP nominee.
- Aug 25 Voters cast ballots in the runoff on Tuesday.
- Aug 25 A Trafalgar Group poll shows the race essentially tied, with Graham at 47.9% and Norman at 47.8% and 4.4% undecided.
- Aug 25 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll shows Democrat James Talarico ahead of Republican Ken Paxton.
- Aug 25 Graham’s debate remark about limited national‑security knowledge sparked concerns about her qualifications.
- Aug 26 Darline Graham secured a full term in the South Carolina Republican Senate primary runoff, underscoring Donald Trump’s continuing influence in the state’s party politics.
- Aug 26 Mike Mazzie won the GOP runoff and became the party’s nominee for governor.
- Aug 26 Trump held a rally in Myrtle Beach and praised Graham’s late brother Lindsey Graham.
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