Trump-backed Graham Nordone faces test in unpredictable primary
Darline Graham nordone, an interim Republican U.S. Senate candidate from South Carolina, enjoys important support from the GOP and President Trump ahead of Tuesday’s special primary. Despite this backing, she is not considered a guaranteed winner to succeed her late brother, Lindsey Graham. The race is highly competitive, with a three-way fight for second place among contenders such as Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, former Governor Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark lynch, who previously lost the June primary before his sudden July death.
Graham Nordone emphasizes focusing on domestic issues like affordability and voter concerns, distancing herself somewhat from her brother’s foreign policy emphasis.She is also combatting criticisms from rivals over her past work with a state agency aiding the blind, which some allege relates to diversity and inclusion policies-charges she dismisses. The primary is expected to be unpredictable, with a runoff likely unless a candidate secures over 50% of the vote in the initial contest. Her ultimate appointment remains uncertain, with polls indicating a tight race.her campaign strategy involves appealing to voters’ concerns about everyday issues, and her performance so far is described as prudent.
Interim Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) has much of the Senate GOP in her corner and, most importantly, the support of President Donald Trump ahead of Tuesday’s special South Carolina Republican Senate primary.
Yet, Graham Nordone, on the ballot for a full six-year term, isn’t seen as a shoo-in to replace her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
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“It is a complete free-for-all, three-way race for second place,” predicted Tyson Grinstead, a Republican National Committee member and a 2014 Graham campaign adviser who’s a neutral observer to the primary.
Tuesday’s special election, largely seen as a wild-card contest due to a condensed campaign period lasting only a few weeks, likely won’t be the end despite the November general election safely in GOP hands. An Aug. 25 runoff between the top two vote-getters is expected unless one amasses more than 50% of the vote.
The top contenders to be South Carolina’s Republican Senate nominee include Graham Nordone, Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, former Gov. Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark Lynch. Lynch lost the initial June primary to Graham prior to his sudden death in July from an aortic tear.
“You can make a good case for any of the other three coming in second,” Grinstead said of Norman, Fry, and Sanford.
Graham Nordone is leaning on support from Trump and leading Senate Republicans, including North Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, but she’s also made clear that while honoring her brother’s legacy is a priority, she intends to focus less on foreign policy and more on domestic issues such as affordability.
“Obviously, I think Lindsey was an amazing senator. His interest was foreign relations and national security,” Graham Nordone said Monday on Fox & Friends. “And while national security is really important, I’m a little different, because here I want to focus on the struggles of the South Carolina families because, like them, I feel those same struggles.”
Should Graham Nordone ultimately fail to secure the nomination, her appointment to the seat will conclude in January 2027. Polling varies and suggests the race is tight, but some surveys have shown her with sizable leads while still below the runoff threshold.
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But so far, she’s approaching voters in “a smart way,” according to Grinstead.
“I think she realizes that people right now are concerned about, you know, the affordability issues,” he said. “To focus on some of those domestic issues rather than foreign policy to start with, I think that’s a smart move.”
SOUTH CAROLINA GOP SENATE POLLING SHOWS TIGHT RACE BETWEEN GRAHAM NORDONE, NORMAN, FRY, AND SANFORD
Among the criticisms Graham Nordone has faced from primary rivals, particularly Fry, are accusations that she pushed diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in her past role helping the blind. It’s a charge that, if it sticks, could doom her in the eyes of some conservative voters.
“I’ve got some opponents that have been attacking me on some DEI issues, which I don’t understand,” Graham Nordone said in the Fox & Friends interview. “I’ve led a state agency for seven years, where I help people who are blind find work so that they can live independently and not rely on the government, thus saving taxpayers’ dollars. So I’m not sure how that equates to DEI.”
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