Can Darline Graham — and Trump — Hold a Senate Seat in South Carolina?

By

Ed Kilgore,

political columnist for Intelligencer since 2015

Norman and Graham in their one debate.

Just six weeks ago, Darline Graham was known to politically tuned-in South Carolinians as the adored younger sister of veteran U.S. senator Lindsey Graham, holding down a low-profile if worthy state office as an advocate for services for the blind. Then Lindsey Graham suddenly died and Darline began occupying her brother’s Senate seat, initially as a caretaker but now as a candidate for a full term (Lindsey had recently won renomination for a fifth term). Despite quickly earning the backing of Donald Trump, Graham did not chase off opponents at all. But she did finish first in an August 11 special Republican primary, winning about a third of the vote against a large field that included two U.S. House members and a former governor. (Democrats had already chosen their November Senate candidate, pediatrician Annie Andrews.)