Who is Darline Graham and what is Graham running on in the 2026 South Carolina Senate race?

Darline Graham is the Republican candidate for South Carolina U.S. Senate, and the incumbent. Appointed U.S. senator (July 2026), first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate; former commissioner of the S.C. Commission for the Blind (2019-2026) and vocational rehabilitation professional. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Appointed incumbent Darline Graham (R), sister of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died July 11, 2026; appointed by Gov. McMaster July 13, 2026.
• Rating: Solid R (Cook).
• Polling: Graham 43, Andrews 42 (Trafalgar, Sept 26, 2026); InsiderAdvantage Sept 10: Graham 45, Andrews 43.

Why Graham is ahead

• South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998, and Trump won it by 18 points in 2024.
• Graham has Trump’s endorsement and won the GOP runoff over Ralph Norman 52.4%-47.6%.
• Yet the race is close in polls: September polls show Graham up only 1 to 2 points, and Impact Research (D) had Andrews ahead 42 to 39 in August.
• Andrews has a huge money lead ($10.8M raised vs $347K as of June 30) and better favorability; Graham was criticized for a weak debate showing on Taiwan and national security.

What Graham is running on

• Trump. Running with Donald Trump’s endorsement; Trump held a rally and made calls on her behalf.
• Foreign policy / sanctions. Introduced the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.
• Military. Says she supports the military while admitting she is not well informed on national security.
• Administration nominees. Voted to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General.

In Graham’s own words

“I’m not that informed on national security, but I do support the military.”

The other candidates

• Annie Andrews (D)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.