{"id":2649521,"date":"2026-08-25T18:02:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T22:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-nordone-faces-uncertainty-before-south-carolina-primary\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T18:35:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T22:35:01","slug":"graham-nordone-faces-uncertainty-before-south-carolina-primary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-nordone-faces-uncertainty-before-south-carolina-primary\/","title":{"rendered":"Graham Nordone faces uncertainty before South Carolina primary"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgraham-nordone-faces-uncertainty-before-south-carolina-primary%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2649521&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) faces an uncertain path ahead of the upcoming Republican Senate primary runoff in South Carolina following a lackluster debate performance. Although polls initially favored her over her opponent, Rep.Ralph Norman, her momentum stalled after she admitted to being &#8220;not that informed on national security,&#8221; raising questions about her experience. Appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster after her brother, the late Senator Lindsey Graham, passed away, she was encouraged to run and received President Donald Trump&#8217;s endorsement.<\/p>\n<p>Despite her previous lead in the special election,neither candidate secured over 50%,leading to the runoff. Trump\u2019s team has actively supported Graham Nordone with meaningful campaign funding, even though her opponent, Norman-a seasoned congressman and member of the House Freedom Caucus-has established a strong presence. Political analyst Jim Antle noted that while Trump&#8217;s endorsements can influence outcomes, they are not always decisive and that the president prefers candidates supportive of the administration&#8217;s agenda. The election results are expected to be announced after polls close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/darline-graham-nordone\/\">Sen. Darline Graham Nordone<\/a> (R-SC) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hasan-piker-draws-condemnation-but-progressives-still-see-him-as-an-asset\/\" title=\"Hasan Piker draws condemnation but progressives still see him as an asset\">faces uncertainty ahead<\/a> of Tuesday\u2019s Republican <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a> primary runoff election in South Carolina after a lackluster debate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4699074\/ralph-norman-darline-graham-nordone-south-carolina-primary-poll\/\">polls initially placed<\/a> Graham Nordone ahead of her opponent, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/?s=ralph+norman\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/?s=ralph+norman\">Rep. Ralph Norman<\/a> (R-SC), her momentum stalled after she said she was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4699074\/ralph-norman-darline-graham-nordone-south-carolina-primary-poll\/\">\u201cnot that informed on national security,\u201d<\/a> causing voters to question her experience. Graham Nordone was appointed by Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/henry-mcmaster\/\">Henry McMaster<\/a> (R-SC) following the unexpected death of her brother, the late <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\">Sen. Lindsey Graham<\/a>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4700192\/brad-schneider-abdul-el-sayed-hasan-piker\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Jewish House Democrat calls out el Sayed for refusing to \u2018condemn the words of Hasan Piker\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4700241\/darline-graham-nordone-uncertainty-primary-south-carolina\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Darline Graham Nordone faces uncertainty ahead of Senate GOP primary in South Carolina<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4700059\/hasan-piker-condemnation-progressives-asset\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Hasan Piker draws condemnation but progressives still see him as an asset<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe\u2019s had a tough week or so, particularly after her debate performance,\u201d <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> magazine executive editor Jim Antle said Tuesday on C-Span\u2019s <em>Washington Journal<\/em>. \u201cThere are a lot of questions about whether her level of experience is suited for serving in that Senate seat. She clearly still has a lot of her brother\u2019s staff still with her, but it\u2019s going to be an interesting dynamic.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Graham Nordone secured most of the vote during an Aug. 11 special election, because neither candidate secured over 50%, she will face Norman in a runoff. The winner of the runoff will be the Republican nominee for Senate. Graham Nordone was encouraged to run and endorsed by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">President Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antle said that while every Republican candidate may want the president\u2019s stamp of approval, it is not always enough to tilt the scale.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think sometimes when he endorses loyalists who are not necessarily the strongest candidate, his endorsement is important, but it\u2019s not necessarily decisive,\u201d Antle said. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, Trump\u2019s team seems determined to get its candidate across the finish line, including a last-minute push of<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4698678\/maga-inc-donations-south-carolina-senate-race-boost-darline-graham-nordone\/\"> nearly $828,000<\/a> into campaigning for Graham Nordone. Her opponent, however, has already established himself as a fifth-term congressman. Norman is a \u201cstringent\u201d member of the House Freedom Caucus, a factor that may have been a red flag to the president, Antle said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4699074\/ralph-norman-darline-graham-nordone-south-carolina-primary-poll\/\"><strong>RALPH NORMAN ERASES DARLINE GRAHAM NORDONE\u2019S LEAD ON FINAL DAY OF PRIMARY: POLL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think the president probably doesn\u2019t want too many of those types of people in the Senate,\u201d Antle said. \u201cHe wants people who are cooperative. He wants people to be supportive of the administration\u2019s agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lindsey Graham was a close ally of Trump before his death, and Antle said the president\u2019s support for the late senator\u2019s sister may also have been paying tribute. The election results will start coming in on Tuesday after polls close at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Graham Nordone&#8217;s Senate race faces doubts after weak debate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4395,"featured_media":2649523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26236601783965.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4087,6571,5894,4909,78366],"class_list":["post-2649521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-campaign","tag-elections","tag-politics","tag-primary","tag-southcarolina"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26236601783965.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649521","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4395"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2649521"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2649543,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649521\/revisions\/2649543"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2649523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2649521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2649521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2649521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}