COLUMBIA, S.C. — Rep. Ralph Norman and Darline Graham are heading to a runoff election for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in South Carolina after advancing from a 10-way special election.
Graham received 32.75% of the vote, while Norman earned 24.65%, placing both candidates in a runoff election that is less than two weeks away.
The candidates are launching efforts to connect with voters across the state on a shorter timeline.
Statewide voter turnout for the special election was 11%, with York County reporting turnout at just more than 10%, Lancaster at nearly 11%, and Chester County at 10.5%.
With limited time remaining before the vote, both campaigns are working to reach undecided voters across the state.
Iris Wilbur, an undecided voter, said she is taking time to evaluate her options. “I’m still kinda weighing it all out because I need to check into both of them before I decide,” Wilbur said.
Graham enters the runoff with an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffmon said the endorsement helped her lead the field but was not enough to avoid a runoff.
“The Trump endorsement didn’t rocket her to a win that she didn’t need a runoff,” Huffmon said. He noted that Graham must demonstrate her ability to execute policy goals.
“She definitely needs to let voters know why she is the best candidate to get Trump’s agenda through,” Huffmon said. “Just because Trump likes her doesn’t mean that the voters are saying she will be effective in the Senate at achieving these goals.”
Norman performed well in the Upstate region and his home territory in South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, but he needs to gain traction in other parts of the state.
Huffmon said conservative voters who are dissatisfied with compromise could play a key role in Norman’s support.
“If the people further on the right turn out, there’s a good chance they’ll turn out behind Norman,” Huffmon said. “And the reason is Lindsey Graham; a lot of the most conservative activists within the Republican Party were the ones who weren’t that thrilled with Graham and his willingness to compromise over the years.”
Endorsements from other candidates in the 10-way primary could also impact the runoff outcome.
U.S. Rep. Russell Fry won approximately 42% of the vote in Horry County, where Norman received less than 9%.
Former candidate Mark Lynch has officially endorsed Norman in the runoff race.