Graham wins South Carolina Republican primary; Trump backs candidate

Darline Graham has secured victory in the South Carolina Republican primary, winning the nomination for the Senate seat with 52.4% of the vote. Her win is seen as a significant endorsement for President Donald Trump, who actively supported her campaign.

Graham, who is currently occupying the Senate seat left vacant by her brother, the late Senator Lindsey Graham, defeated Ralph Norman, a member of the House of Representatives, in the runoff election. While Graham led in the initial round of voting among a dozen candidates, her victory in the runoff is interpreted as a win for Trump, who faces declining approval ratings.

The election marks the second time voters in South Carolina have gone to the polls in recent months, following the unexpected death of Senator Lindsey Graham in July. He had held the Senate seat since 2003 and won his last primary in June by a wide margin.

President Trump invested considerable resources and personal time into Graham's campaign. His organization reportedly spent over $827,000 on text messages and phone calls to support her, one of the largest expenditures of the electoral cycle. Trump also campaigned alongside Graham in South Carolina, urging his supporters to vote for her as if he were on the ballot himself.

Graham will now face Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews in the general election on November 3. This race is part of the broader election that will determine control of both the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate, potentially impacting Trump's ability to govern.