Sen. Darline Graham Nordone won South Carolina's Republican Senate primary runoff on Tuesday, defeating U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman and putting her in a commanding position to win a full term in the seat once held by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, according to the Associated Press, NBC News and The Washington Post.

From interim appointee to nominee

Graham died in July 2026, and South Carolina's governor appointed Nordone, his sister, to serve out his term on an interim basis, making her the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. She then entered the special election to keep the seat for a full term. With nearly all ballots counted, Nordone led Norman roughly 52.5% to 47.6%, according to the Associated Press, which called the race Tuesday night.

A close-up of an American flag waving against a clear sky
Nordone will face Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the November general election for a seat considered solidly Republican.

A Trump-backed campaign

President Trump endorsed Nordone and campaigned for her in the runoff, and his affiliated super PAC spent nearly $1 million supporting her bid, according to the Washington Examiner and NBC News. Her win is being read as another sign of the president's continued influence over Republican primary contests heading into the 2026 midterms.

Darline Graham Nordone's remarks on primary night after the Associated Press called the race.

Nordone now advances to the November general election against Andrews, who won the Democratic primary in June. South Carolina's Senate seat has been reliably Republican for decades, and Nordone is considered a heavy favorite to win the seat for a full six-year term.