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Trump touts primary wins in South Carolina and Oklahoma
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Darline Graham won South Carolina's GOP Senate runoff with 52.4% of the vote. Trump's endorsement power faces another test in Oklahoma's governor runoff.
Background
Lindsey Graham, a longtime US senator from South Carolina, died in July 2026, leaving his seat vacant. His sister, Darline Graham, was appointed to serve out his term and then ran for a full term with Trump's endorsement. The runoff was necessary because no candidate won a majority in the initial primary. Trump's endorsement record was at stake, as he had suffered some high-profile losses in other primaries.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2026Lindsey Graham won the GOP primary for his Senate seat.
- Jul 2026Lindsey Graham died; Darline Graham was appointed to serve out his term.
- Aug 11, 2026Darline Graham finished first in a crowded special primary election.
- Aug 25, 2026Darline Graham defeated Ralph Norman in the runoff with 52.4% of the vote.
Who’s saying what
- Trump
- Trump touted his endorsement power as 'stronger than ever' and campaigned for Graham, saying 'pretend that I'm on the ballot.'
- Critics
- Critics said Graham shouldn't run because she's not a politician; she responded, 'Guilty as charged.'