President Donald Trump will head to South Carolina on Friday for a final push for Sen. Darline Graham, his chosen contender to succeed her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, in an upcoming Republican primary runoff.
Voters across the state will decide Tuesday whether Graham or Rep. Ralph Norman secures the Republican nomination on the ballot this November. The scheduled campaign stop in Myrtle Beach marks a rare appearance on the trail for Trump this year compared to previous midterm cycles, underscoring the weight the president is placing on a victory for his preferred candidate.
The trip also lets the president step into politically favorable ground as midterm elections draw near, with control of Congress hanging in the balance. South Carolina has not elected a Democrat statewide in decades, maintains a congressional House delegation with just one Democrat, and gave Trump a crucial 2016 primary victory that launched his path toward the White House. The special Republican primary was triggered by the sudden death of Lindsey Graham last month.
Following his passing, Gov. Henry McMaster—another ally of Trump—named Darline Graham to serve as interim senator, after which she entered the special primary at Trump's strong urging. McMaster noted that he initially asked Graham to step into the role "in the wee hours" after her brother died, adding that Trump "thought it was a great idea" when informed later.
Trump said he told the governor that appointing her would be a "fabulous tribute to Lindsey." The president publicly backed her on social media, posting "RUN DARLINE, RUN" and granting her his "Complete and Total Endorsement" prior to her official campaign announcement. Graham has consistently reminded voters of this backing and her commitment to advancing his priorities, while Trump also held a tele-rally on her behalf two weeks ago, before the primary. For Trump, the visit also carries personal resonance; despite running against each other in 2016, Trump considered Lindsey Graham a close friend and trusted confidant, delivering the eulogy for his former golfing partner at Washington National Cathedral last month.
Positioning herself as a political newcomer, Graham has told voters she is "not a politician." She has pointed to her years leading a state agency and her recent weeks serving in the U.S. Senate to demonstrate her readiness. Saying she is "answering President Trump’s call to serve," she has repeatedly said she wants "to fight for President Trump’s agenda," highlighting border security and passage of the SAVE Act voting bill as top priorities.
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