Appointed U.S. Senator Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman shared a stage in Greenville on Monday for a candidate forum, with just eight days left before South Carolina Republicans decide their U.S. Senate nominee in an August 25 primary runoff. The event was hosted by First Monday in Greenville and the Fourth District Republican Club, and moderated by Jane Robelot and Joey Hudson.
The forum comes after Graham and Norman advanced from a crowded 10-candidate field in the August 11 special primary, according to WYFF News 4. Graham finished first with 32.7% of the vote, or 109,633 votes, while Norman came in second with 24.7%, or 82,541 votes, per WLTX. Because neither candidate cleared the 50% threshold South Carolina law requires for an outright nomination, the top two were sent to a runoff two weeks later, as CBS News reported.
A Seat Vacant After Sudden Loss
The special election exists because four-term Senator Lindsey Graham died on July 11, just weeks after he had already secured the Republican nomination in the regular June primary. He had represented South Carolina in the Senate, according to the same CBS News account. Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham's sister, Darline Graham, to fill the seat on July 13, per the Office of Governor Henry McMaster. Graham had previously served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
Norman, meanwhile, has served in the U.S. House since 2017 and is a representative from South Carolina's 5th Congressional District. The forum highlighted the contrast between an appointed newcomer to statewide office and a congressman with years of legislative experience.
Endorsements and a Divided Upstate
Graham enters the runoff with heavyweight backing: President Donald Trump has endorsed her, according to Fox News. Trump publicly backed her shortly after her brother's death. Fifth-place primary finisher Mark Lynch, by contrast, endorsed Norman after the August 11 vote.
Norman still has a geographic edge in one crucial corner of the state. He led in York County on primary night, per ClickOnDetroit. The forum was held in Greenville.
Other Contenders Already Eliminated
Eight other candidates were eliminated in the August 11 primary, including former Governor Mark Sanford, who finished fourth with 14.9% in what had been billed as a political comeback attempt, and U.S. Representative Russell Fry, according to The Guardian. Both campaigns' remaining supporters are now up for grabs in the sprint to August 25.
Forum co-moderator Joey Hudson is associated with 98.9 FM in the Upstate market, according to WYFF News 4. Robelot, his co-moderator, works for WYFF News 4.
Looking Ahead to November
Whoever wins the August 25 runoff will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the November 3 general election. For now, the immediate contest remains squarely between Graham and Norman, with just over a week left for South Carolina Republicans to settle the nomination.
