In Major Victory for Trump, Darline Graham Wins South Carolina Republican Primary for Full Term in the Senate

In a win for President Trump, Senator Darline Graham has won a special primary in South Carolina to serve the state for a full, six-year term in Congress’s upper chamber. Ms. Graham was appointed to fill the seat of her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, after he died last month. Ms. Graham had never before held elected office. For years, she ran a state agency aimed at increasing employment for those who are blind, which naturally led some conservatives to question if she had a record that proved she was conservative enough to represent a deep-red state. In the end, it was Mr. Trump’s endorsement that was enough to get her over the finish line despite some major campaign gaffes. Speaking to reporters at her victory party on Tuesday, Ms. Graham said she owes the victory to Mr. Trump. “South Carolina Republicans, I humbly accept your nomination to serve as the Republican nominee for the United States Senate from the great state of South Carolina,” she said, declaring directly to Mr. Trump that the win “would not have been possible without you, and we are truly grateful.”Ms. Graham launched her campaign after she had already been endorsed by Mr. Trump. He said that he met with her the day after she had been sworn in back in July, and that during their Oval Office meeting, he personally asked her to run. She announced her candidacy on Fox News days later. She faced off against Congressman Ralph Norman, a hardline conservative from the northern party of the state. Mr. Norman ruffled some feathers by announcing his candidacy only days after the late senator had died, leading some colleagues to accuse him of selfishness. Only one member of the South Carolina congressional delegate, Congresswoman Nancy Mace, backed Mr. Norman. In his concession speech, Mr. Norman said he did not understand why Mr. Trump would weigh in on the primary at all. “His policies are good, I never understood why he got in this race … it is what it is I’ll accept it,” Mr. Norman said, claiming that Democrats “got what they wanted. “I accept it,” he said. “I don’t like it, but I accept it.” He endorsed Ms. Graham during his concession. Ms. Graham is the heavy favorite to win the general election this year as she prepares to face off against pediatrician Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democratic nominee. Dr. Andrews — like Mr. Norman — is making the race about nepotism, given Ms. Graham inherited her brother despite never being involved in politics before. On Tuesday night, Dr. Andrews laid out a new attack line, saying that race was now between “the sister” and “the doctor.”

In Major Victory for Trump, Darline Graham Wins South Carolina Republican Primary for Full Term in the Senate

In Major Victory for Trump, Darline Graham Wins South Carolina Republican Primary for Full Term in the Senate

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