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NRSC Urges South Carolina Republicans to Back Darline Graham Ahead of Senate Runoff
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has publicly urged South Carolina Republicans to support Darline Graham in the upcoming runoff for the state’s U.S. Senate seat. Senior Senator Tim Scott, who chairs the NRSC, announced on Wednesday that he voted for Graham in the August 11 primary and will vote for her again in the runoff.
Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was appointed to fill the vacancy created by his death on July 11, 2026. She won the first place in the August 11 primary with 56.8 % of the vote, but no candidate achieved a majority, triggering a runoff between Graham and Representative Ralph Norman. The NRSC’s outreach is aimed at consolidating Republican support for Graham ahead of the August 18 runoff.
The NRSC, a Republican Hill committee that helps elect Senate candidates, has been chaired by Scott since 2025. According to the committee’s public statements, the NRSC called the top finishers who did not advance to the runoff—Representative Russell Fry, former Governor Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark Lynch—on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The calls urged those candidates to endorse Graham, according to two people with knowledge of the outreach who requested anonymity.
In a social‑media post on Wednesday, Scott said, “I voted for Darline in yesterday’s primary, and I’ll vote for her again in the runoff. I’m proud to endorse Darline Graham for the U.S. Senate, and I encourage South Carolina Republicans across our state to join me in voting for her in the runoff.” Scott had previously told POLITICO earlier in the month that he believed Graham would win the race.
The other candidates have not publicly endorsed either Graham or Norman. Fry congratulated both candidates but declined to endorse one over the other. Sanford declined to endorse in a local television interview, leaving the possibility open. Lynch’s spokesperson Noel Fritsch said that Lynch had already endorsed Norman, citing the House Republican’s focus on “draining the swamp.” Spokespeople for Graham, Norman, and Fry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Endorsements are a significant factor in South Carolina’s Republican primaries, where voters often look to party leaders for guidance. The NRSC’s push mirrors a strategy used in the governor’s primary runoff earlier in the year, where the committee’s support helped Attorney General Alan Wilson win over Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette.
The runoff will be held on August 18, and the winner will become the Republican nominee for the November 3 general election. The NRSC’s outreach aims to secure a unified front for Graham, who is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. The committee’s public statement referenced Scott’s social‑media post as the basis for its endorsement.
At this time, the race remains contested. The NRSC’s endorsement may influence Republican voters, but the outcome will depend on the turnout and the support of the broader GOP base. The runoff’s result will determine the party’s nominee for the seat, which is scheduled to be contested in the November general election.
The NRSC’s call for endorsement underscores the committee’s role in shaping Senate elections and reflects the importance of consolidating support in a state that has historically favored Republican candidates. The runoff’s outcome will be closely watched by party leaders and voters alike.
Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was appointed to fill the vacancy created by his death on July 11, 2026. She won the first place in the August 11 primary with 56.8 % of the vote, but no candidate achieved a majority, triggering a runoff between Graham and Representative Ralph Norman. The NRSC’s outreach is aimed at consolidating Republican support for Graham ahead of the August 18 runoff.
The NRSC, a Republican Hill committee that helps elect Senate candidates, has been chaired by Scott since 2025. According to the committee’s public statements, the NRSC called the top finishers who did not advance to the runoff—Representative Russell Fry, former Governor Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark Lynch—on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The calls urged those candidates to endorse Graham, according to two people with knowledge of the outreach who requested anonymity.
In a social‑media post on Wednesday, Scott said, “I voted for Darline in yesterday’s primary, and I’ll vote for her again in the runoff. I’m proud to endorse Darline Graham for the U.S. Senate, and I encourage South Carolina Republicans across our state to join me in voting for her in the runoff.” Scott had previously told POLITICO earlier in the month that he believed Graham would win the race.
The other candidates have not publicly endorsed either Graham or Norman. Fry congratulated both candidates but declined to endorse one over the other. Sanford declined to endorse in a local television interview, leaving the possibility open. Lynch’s spokesperson Noel Fritsch said that Lynch had already endorsed Norman, citing the House Republican’s focus on “draining the swamp.” Spokespeople for Graham, Norman, and Fry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Endorsements are a significant factor in South Carolina’s Republican primaries, where voters often look to party leaders for guidance. The NRSC’s push mirrors a strategy used in the governor’s primary runoff earlier in the year, where the committee’s support helped Attorney General Alan Wilson win over Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette.
The runoff will be held on August 18, and the winner will become the Republican nominee for the November 3 general election. The NRSC’s outreach aims to secure a unified front for Graham, who is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. The committee’s public statement referenced Scott’s social‑media post as the basis for its endorsement.
At this time, the race remains contested. The NRSC’s endorsement may influence Republican voters, but the outcome will depend on the turnout and the support of the broader GOP base. The runoff’s result will determine the party’s nominee for the seat, which is scheduled to be contested in the November general election.
The NRSC’s call for endorsement underscores the committee’s role in shaping Senate elections and reflects the importance of consolidating support in a state that has historically favored Republican candidates. The runoff’s outcome will be closely watched by party leaders and voters alike.
