President Donald Trump is putting his political weight behind Senator Darline Graham as she prepares for a key Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina.
Trump traveled to Myrtle Beach on Friday to campaign for Graham. She is seeking the Republican nomination for the Senate seat once held by her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
The Republican runoff will take place on Tuesday. Graham will face Representative Ralph Norman. The winner will move on to the November election against Democratic candidate Annie Andrews.
The race has drawn national attention because of Trump’s strong support for Graham. His visit gives her campaign a major boost just days before voters return to the polls.
Trump urged South Carolina voters to support Graham. He told the crowd to treat him as if he were on the ballot. His message was clear. He wants his supporters to turn out and help his chosen candidate win.
Graham was appointed to the Senate seat after Lindsey Graham died suddenly in July. She had not previously held elected office at the national level.
Her lack of political experience has become one of the main issues in the race. Graham also faced questions after a recent debate with Norman.
During that debate, she said she was not well informed about national security. She was asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea but did not give the answer many voters expected.
The comment quickly became a target for her critics. Norman has argued that he is better prepared for the job because of his experience in Congress.
Trump has defended Graham. He said her answer showed honesty rather than weakness. He also pointed to the difference between Graham and her late brother.
Lindsey Graham was known for his strong interest in foreign policy. Darline Graham has said she wants to focus more on issues inside the United States.
Affordability is one of the main issues in her campaign. She has also backed several major Trump policies.
The first Republican primary did not produce a clear winner. Graham received about 32.8% of the vote, while Norman received about 24.6%. Because neither candidate won more than half, the two will now face each other in the runoff.
Trump’s involvement could be important. His support helped Graham lead the first vote. But she still needs to win another election before she can secure the Republican nomination.
The result will also offer a test of Trump’s influence among Republican voters. The president has played a major role in many Republican primary contests.
South Carolina is a strongly Republican state. Trump won the state by a wide margin in the 2024 presidential election. That gives the Republican nominee a strong starting point in the November race.
Still, the runoff has created an unusual contest. Graham is backed by the president and the state’s governor, while Norman is presenting himself as a more experienced choice.
Norman has questioned why Trump chose Graham. He has argued that his record in Congress makes him better prepared for the Senate.
The winner will face Andrews in November. She is a Democratic pediatrician who has already built a large campaign fund.
The race could therefore become an important test of how much Republican voters want a candidate closely tied to Trump.
For Graham, Tuesday’s vote is about more than winning the Republican nomination. It is also a test of whether Trump’s support can overcome concerns about her experience.
For Trump, the result could offer another measure of his power inside the Republican Party.
His South Carolina rally shows that he is willing to spend time and political capital on candidates he supports.
The coming runoff will now decide whether that support is enough. Voters will choose between Graham and Norman on Tuesday.
The winner will then face the Democratic candidate in November. Until then, Trump’s endorsement will remain one of the biggest factors in a race that has quickly become a national political story.
