Darline Graham wins South Carolina Republican Senate runoff

Sen. Darline Graham is projected to win Tuesday’s Republican primary runoff for the South Carolina Senate seat previously held by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Darline Graham, 62, defeated Rep. Ralph Norman after the two emerged as the top candidates in a crowded Republican primary earlier this month. Neither candidate secured enough votes to win the Aug. 11 contest outright, sending the race to a runoff.

The victory puts Darline Graham on track to appear on the November ballot as the Republican nominee for a full Senate term.

Lindsey Graham, 71, died unexpectedly in early July after more than two decades in the Senate. He had won the Republican nomination for another term in the initial June primary before his death.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to temporarily fill the vacant Senate seat. She subsequently announced her campaign for a full term and received the backing of President Donald Trump.

In her victory speech, Graham said she "humbly" accepts the nomination to serve as the Republican nominee for the upper chamber.

"I want to thank President Trump for all of his support...South Carolina is truly Trump country!" she said.

​Norman, for his part, said he “hates it for the state" and "never understood" why Trump got involved.

"He has that right, that's his prerogative ... his policies are good, I never understood why he got in this race to beat but it is what it is, and I'll accept it," he said.