US Senator Darline Graham (R-South Carolina), an avid supporter of Israel who vowed to carry the legacy of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, won South Carolina’s Republican primary runoff on Tuesday.
Graham, who was appointed to hold the Senate seat until the beginning of January, defeated Rep. Ralph Norman (R-South Carolina) and is set to face Democrat Annie Andrews (D-South Carolina) in the November general election for a full, six-year Senate term.
The win is also a victory for US President Donald Trump, who recruited Graham, 62, and endorsed her following the death of her brother last month.
“She only knows how to put America first,” CNN quoted Trump as saying during a Friday rally in Myrtle Beach. "You vote for her, you’re going to be very proud of that vote."
Trump's MAGA INC. spent $827,711 in support of Graham, according to its filing on Monday with the Federal Election Commission, in a rare instance of the president putting financial support behind his favored candidate.
Graham holds highly conservative agenda
Throughout her campaign, Graham pledged a strongly conservative agenda, including support for Trump’s immigration agenda, voter identification requirements, abortion restrictions, and Second Amendment rights.
She had never held public office until her appointment to the Senate, having previously held positions advocating for persons with physical disabilities.
“I’ve been accused of not being a politician,” she said. “Guilty as charged.”
According to an Axios report, Democrats have not won a US Senate election in South Carolina since 1998, making Graham's likelihood of winning high.
Retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan advances in US Senate race in Alaska
Retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan advanced to the general election for US Senate in Alaska, according to US media projections on Tuesday, creating potential voter confusion with incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, who also advanced.
Reuters and Idan Kweller contributed to this report.