The late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham's sister Darlene moved closer to taking his seat for the next six years in the Aug. 25 Republican primary in South Carolina. With the support of Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed political newcomer managed to beat congressman Ralph Norman with almost 10 years of experience.
Darlene Graham will therefore represent the Republicans in the US Senate elections in South Carolina in the November 3 midterm elections. Her Democratic opponent will be another woman, pediatrician Annie Andrews.
The state has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in almost 30 years, and a Republican victory in November is considered all but guaranteed in the American media. One way or another, the winner of this election will become the first female senator elected in South Carolina. Graham's victory could also create the first dynasty of a brother and sister in the history of the US Senate, notes The New York Times (NYT).
The Aug. 25 vote marked the second round of South Carolina's GOP primary, as Graham failed to clear the 50 percent mark in the first round on Aug. 11, despite Trump's support. In the second round, Graham won 52.5% to Norman's 47.6%, reports the Associated Press (AP).
Shortly before the decisive vote, Graham was criticized for her debate response to Norman. The 62-year-old acting senator (appointed temporarily by the governor after the death of her brother) could not answer whether the United States has a national interest in the issue of Taiwan and the South China Sea.
“I'm not very well informed on international security issues, but I definitely support the military. My brother served in the Air Force for 33 years and I will do anything to support the military,” said Graham, whose brother was known for his active support of Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
In Oklahoma, where Republicans are also more often elected, a representative of the Democratic Socialists became the winner of the Democratic Party primaries before the Senate elections for the first time.
31-year-old nurse Nkayla Jasmine Thomas beat out lawyer Jim Priest, despite modest campaign funding, NBC News notes. As a result of the primaries, the candidate with African-American and Native American blood had $456 left in the treasury, and she spent less than $60 thousand.
In November, she will compete against Republican Congressman Kevin Hurn for the job of former Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. He has more than $2 million to spend on the campaign two months before the election, NBC News adds.
WE DID IT, OklaHOMIES. 💙🦋 WE SHOOK THE ROOM!
First of all, THANK YOU. Thank you for every small dollar donation. Every prayer. Every story you trusted me with. Every door knocked. Every post shared. Every conversation. Every piece of constructive criticism. And every single… pic.twitter.com/5QtCmRh3ya
— N'Kiyla “Jasmine” Thomas (@jasmineforok) August 26, 2026
