Lindsey Graham's sister Darline advances to GOP runoff for US Senate

By
FOX Local
Published August 12, 2026 1:35 PM EDT

FILE-Senator Darline Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, departs after casting her ballot at a polling location inside Lake Murray Baptist Church during a special primary election in Lexington, South Carolina, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sa …

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The Brief 

    • Sen. Darline Graham is set to compete against U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman in a Republican runoff in August.
    • Graham was an advocate for disability rights before launching her political career.
    • Darline, the sibling of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to serve out the waning months of her brother’s term in the U.S. Senate.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Sen. Darline Graham and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman advanced to a runoff in South Carolina’s special Republican primary.

The candidates are competing in the primary to replace the late Lindsey Graham in the U.S. Senate, a month after he died on July 11. 

RELATED: Who is Darline Graham Nordone, the choice to fill Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat?

Darline Graham advanced Tuesday and will face Norman in an Aug. 25 runoff, according to The Associated Press. 

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to serve the remaining months of her late brother’s term. 

President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday that Darline Graham called him after making the Republican runoff to thank him for his support. Trump responded, "I think so" when asked if he would campaign for her but added that he also liked Norman and other candidates in the race, saying, "I mean, they’re all Trumpers," the AP noted. 

Who is Darline Graham?

The backstory:

Darline Graham is a longtime advocate for disability rights and lived a quiet life with her family in Columbia, South Carolina until she decided to run for the Senate.

RELATED: US Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71

According to The New York Times, Graham is a mother of two and recently worked as commissioner of a state agency for blind residents. Individuals who worked with Graham describe her as skilled at developing relationships, making a substantial impact on behalf of people with disabilities.

Darline and Lindsey Graham formed a close bond after losing both their parents in a little over a year, when she was 13 and he 22 years old. Lindsay later became his sister’s legal guardian.

The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, previous FOX Local reporting, and The New York Times. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.




 

PoliticsSouth Carolina