UPDATE: Graham Wins – AP Calls the Race
The special election in South Carolina to fill the seat of Senator Lindsey Graham is today. The polls close at 7:00pm ET in South Carolina and for President Trump there is a significant stake.
The opposition media are hoping that Ralph Norman defeats President Trump endorsed candidate Darline Graham so they can write articles about how Trump has lost his political strength and now suffers election embarrassment. President Trump not only endorsed Darline Graham, but he also held a rally for her last Friday and instructed his SuperPAC to fund her campaign heavily.
No one is sure how this special election is going to turn out. What I find interesting is the lack of publicly displayed and discussed polling over the past week. That doesn’t mean polls were not conducted, it only means conducted polls were never made public. This one will be super interesting to watch unfold this evening.
NYT Election Results Here
AP Election Results Here
Should Darline Graham win she retains the entire staff of her deceased brother, Lindsey Graham, who have been guiding her as an interim appointed senator. The South Caroline old guard GOP also has a stake in this race as the professionally Republican political class are not very supportive of President Trump and the MAGA coalition.
Consider this an open discussion thread for anything that relates to the special election and South Carolina politics. There is also primary voting in Georgia and Oklahoma. We will pin this thread to the top of the page until the final results are complete.
If Ms Nordone wins in the final vote her first task will be to fly to Kiev .
I’m sure you’re right… Darline is definitely the warmonger choice. Lindsey Graham’s Liberty Score from Conservative Review is 43% (an F grade). He voted for Merrick Garland and even in recent years, he criticized the concept of mass deportation as impractical and argued for guestworker programs. I could go on and on with examples of how he betrayed America First.
Most likely she will continue the shameful record of her brother.
Makes you wonder where Trump’s head is really at.
I said the other day he should have kept out of this race. He should have said I will go with the S. Carolina voters.
Our President is playing the cards he is dealt, but I’m sure you could do better!
SB spot on. President Trump is not one to just sit around. He is doing the best he can with the cards he’s dealt. Personal friendship seems to also go a long way in his hemisphere. So he picked the candidate he wanted and ran with it. Geesh let’s just see if Trump was “right again”… 😎
Norman was a Nikki Haley supporter when he ran in 2016.
Trump holds grudges.
Trump might forgive Norman for supporting Nikki in 2016, but Norman also supported her in 2024 – no way is trump going to forgive that.
Trump is smart — I believe he forgives BUT does not forget.
I’m still ticked over his appt of Bondi. Wasted over a year with that clunker AG.
Loyalty wins huge points with Trump. That’s all there is to it, and nepotism…
I’m really beginning to question Trump’s judgement on some things or maybe he’s just getting bad advice from people that he selected because of his questionable judgement. /sarc
She has to continue the GRIFT.
In a recent interview, she said that unlike her brother, her focus would not be on foreign affairs. Instead, she would focus on MAGA and is in favor of the SAVE ACT and nuking the filibuster. Her opponent, on the other hand, was not MAGA and supported tricki nicki against PDJT.
She said foreign affairs were not her area of expertise; the comment left me wondering what is her area of expertise.
In my opinion, we already have too many senators who think they are experts at foreign affairs, like her brother. Before the 17th Amendment we didn’t have all these mini-Presidents walking around thinking they are Secretary of State.
I actually think it’s a good thing that she wants to focus on domestic issues, and not interfere with the Executive branch, which is where foreign policy should be conducted.
Good points. And Miz Graham will undoubtedly be grateful to President Trump for his support. That’ll help!
Voting to support President Trump. And that is an excellent area of expertise.
Like you think the dumb, corrupt people will fill the Senate have expertise in anything except filling their pockets and doing what they’re told?
I wonder if she will take his board member spot w/this group? They took USAID money, to spread “democracy”. They have removed Lindsey from the roster, so I give them credit for staying on top of their website. Just another money laundering service w/an interesting group of Swamp Creatures.
https://www.iri.org/about/
I’ve read much here about guest worker programs, in a negative light. My initial thought is migrant farm workers are a good thing, if we don’t have enough locals to fill the jobs, or automation is cost-prohibitive.
What is the real story with migrant farm workers? Links instead of comments are appreciated as it may be too intensive for a single comment response.
Damn I didn’t turn notifications on. Can everyone reply to this comment vs the prior.
maybe Z already furnish apartment for this beauty….
I’m team Ralph Norman.
so is me..no more warmongers !!!
Doesn’t look good for Norman… Unless something crazy happens we’ll be stuck with Grahamnesty’s war machine.
This was a Trump blunder – no doubt.
Wished he would have stayed out of it.
What? He is trying to fix this country. He can’t stay out of congressional elections.
I’m team Trump.
Did you miss his request that we vote for Graham?
In this case he’s wrong. I detested Lindsey too. I’m not voting for his sister!
I voted for Ralph Norman, though Russell Fry would have been an outstanding senator.
It’s the SC Republican committe making the selection for us. We have no choice but to vote for who they give us. I’m not doing that anymore. I will be sitting this one out!
Rino on Rino. Haven’t seen anything from either one that makes me believe they’ll be any better than someone like Thune.
You’re joking right? Ralph Norman was a founding member of the SC freedom caucus. Ralph Norman has a 100% rating from Heritage Action (John Thune has 76% rating). Ralph Norman received the Taxpayer Friends Award for 2025. Ralph Norman has been endorsed by Turning Point USA and CPAC. Hell, Ralph Norman voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House! If he wins, Ralph Norman will instantly become the most conservative US Senator we have. If Ralph Norman is a “republican in name only” it’s only because republicans are no longer conservatives.
It would be interesting to watch a conservative who isn’t a CONservative.
Hope you are right.
WORD listener eh??
Yeah all these people throwing Dirt on Norman, they really have no clue what they’re talking about. It’s fair to bring up that he endorsed Nikki, but Nikki is a personal friend of his so I let it slide. In every way that matters, with the exception of that, he was an incredibly conservative candidate and has voted the correct way over and over again. Local people know that, but everybody else just for whatever reason believes the Rino crap.
I wouldn’t endorse a globalist even if they WERE a friend. He could’ve just as easily kept quiet. But he didn’t. Same with Murkowski.
Norman also endorsed by Nikki Haley and Lisa Murkowski. Hmmmm…
Norman isn’t a RINO.
He’s not MAGA either.
I don’t care about “conservatives” or “republicans.” What matters is MAGA. We only have two more years.
Votes 100% MAGA, but isn’t MAGA?
I found it hard to pick who I WANT to win in this one.
I would not be surprised if Norman ekes it out.
In addition to not seeing any polls, I have also notice a complete absence of any reporting about today’s turnout.
” they ” DO NOT WANT a SPOT LIGHT on the VOTE
ALSO
The LOWER The VOLUME the BETTER to Be OVERLOOKED
No reporting allowed until the polls close at 7:00 PM EST.
They just closed, so the results should start rolling in – https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/election-results-republican-primary-runoff-senate-graham-norman/article_3c4226a9-1171-4c67-8c47-5c37d22d7678.html
The early voting was slightly higher (~1000 votes) than the recent special election.
Local news today said that there were 63k early votes and 164k votes cast (as of 5pm).
The warmonger, Lindsey Graham, neither helped president Trump nor the people in Ukraine/Russia who need to see an end to the war. He was certainly no moral role model for Americans but the same applies to many of the current politicians.
warmonger #1 ms.linda seen killing Russian soldiers as very positive things…
Just say NO to the establishment GOP. Anything these corrupt establishment Rinos are for, I oppose.
hell, free and fair elections being something of the far distant past, anything happening in this corrupted process is suspect
what is certain is the one installed is the candidate who can be relied upon to block the maga agenda most
Since I don’t live in SC, all I know is, I just don’t know.
Don’t worry, most of us in the state feel the same way.
At least the pro Graham (NEVER Nordone) flyers will stop, either for a few weeks if she wins or forever if she (hopefully) loses.
The fact that Darline does not use her legal surname screams that: “Graham has NOTHING TO OFFER !”
I mostly support Pres Trump … Yet, at times he is “reactionary” in his judgements. … I am amazed there was no depth in the SC Republican Party to present the State with other than “Name Association”.
Pres Trump will undermine his own legacy if he attempts to perpetrate a “Trump Family Dynasty” on these United States.
Of course I don’t know, but I think President Trump highly valued Lindsey Graham as a friend even though they disagreed on some policy issues. President Trump highly values friendships and loyalty and maybe he views his support for his sister as loyalty to Lindsey Graham.
I believe Norman is the better choice though considering his political experience and more conservative positions..
If Darlene wins she may support President Trump until he leaves office then her Establishment credentials will begin to show up.
Norman is too glib-something about him is not MAGA. Darlene supports my president Trump. She said it over and over. I hope she wins.
He isn’t MAGA at all. He has been a thorn in our side as a member of the Freedom Caucus. He would be even worse in the Senate.
If you think the freedom caucus is a thorn in your side…YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT.
no…. they were against just about all of President Trump’s agenda and Norman consistently voted against the BBB.
Fun fact: darline did not vote for trump 2016, 2020 or 2024.
Most of them are die-hard MAGA in the primaries, that’s not unusual. But once in office, when it’s time to vote, they’re often something else.
My gut tells me that Darlene, if she wins, will be a “lite” version of brother Lindsey. But not as versed, though just as easily led. I don’t see a MAGA warrior in her.
If I were the president, I would have stayed out of this one and let the chips fall where they may.
J
The staff will be running the show if she gets in.
Sundance has said she’ll be the Murkowski of the South.
I’m waiting for the expose tell all book by Graham’s boy toy to hit the shelves.
He lives in Israel and has already been dealt with…
Who is the boyfriend and how has he “already been dealt with”?
0.o
“What I find interesting is the lack of publicly displayed and discussed polling over the past week. That doesn’t mean polls were not conducted, it only means conducted polls were never made public.”
There is only one reason they don’t make them public, they don’t like the results of the poll. Polling seems to more about propaganda these days.
It may be backlash from the blatant fraudulent polls of late.
Darline Graham is the projected winner. Exactly why they did not want to share the polling data – she was not the selected candidate.
Darline Grahamnesty is a no-nothing puppet of the Lindsey Grahamnesty machine.
Ralph Norman is a Professional RINO and a card carrying member of the UniParty.
Aunt Bee vs Howard Sprague would truly be a better choice.
Oh man, that’s harsh😧… in color too, I suppose.
Praying for you, SC🙏🏻.
We got our own issues here in GA, too.
Norman was a lesser of two evils. It would have been admirable for Darline to graciously finish her brother’s term. What shes doing in playing a political game is unseemly and greedy. It erased all the goodwill feelings I had for her finishing Lindseys term.
I believes shes lifelong “victim” card, dei promoting, female bureaucrat. Not the psychological profile I will vote for.
Trump’s female picks are 1 for 10.
Ok 2 if you include his press sec.
I’d give Melania a 10… 😉
I’ll stay away in November. I’m tired of being presented with the candidate the state GOP has selected for me. No thank you!
I early voted but a friend voted today in Greenville. She stated that the poll workers were extremely vigilant in checking her eligibility (SC has odd rules on how can vote in primary run-offs). Unusually so. She said more so than during presidential election. Given that and the reported assignment of poll watchers in Charleston. Something odd is definitely afoot.
Everyone I know voted for Norman. Graham was disliked by most South Carolinians. How he was kept in power was due to dirty politics where there would be too many primary candidates such that the dissatisfied votes were diluted.
The race in 2020, they made sure we’d vote for Lindsey by having a Nancy Pelosi candidate – which was the front and center message on all of his ads – as his democrat challenger. Many people held their nose when they voted.
When I sent my ballot through the vote tally machine, the poll worker enthusiastically told me my vote counted. I looked at him and responded, “Yes, but did it count who I voted for?” Crickets
This is what I don’t get. “Everyone” complained about Lindsey but now they vote for his inexperienced sister?
In my opinion, Lindsey stole his elections and his sister, using the same machine, just stole hers. I don’t know anybody who supports either of them.
Having open primaries hurts also, allows crossover voters to reek havoc on candidates.
I was under the impression that only those who had voted in the original primary and had chosen the Republican ballot would be allowed to vote in the run-off. No?
Otherwise it would allow leftists to vote for both the Democratic and the Republican candidates.
South Carolina has been making poor choices in Senators since the first time they selected John Calhoun. Of course, neither party has given them anything to be happy about.
Andrew Jackson, who was from the Waxhaws district that straddles the Cacalacky border, said his biggest regret was not being able to hang Calhoun and shoot Henry Clay. Calhoun was a secessionist. Clay was the spiritual ancestor of B tch McConnell.
The best that can be said is at least neither Nancy Disgraced and Maced nor Stikki Nikki HiCaste has a sniff at that seat. Nancy’s revenge porn saga is laughable. Stikki NIkki stands charged with wayward behavior while Hubs was deployed overseas. The female equivalent of a guy cheating on a wife who is dying of cancer … like Jon Edwards of North Cackalacky did and like Woodrow Wilson did.
Newt Gingrich did also.
Hmmmm … let’s see now.
Ralph Warren Norman Jr. has been “in politics” for 20+ years and has done nothing of note …
Darline Lettie Graham Nordone has been “in politics” for …. one — that’s ONE — month … and knows nohing …
Is it little wonder The Palmeto State occasionally has “problems” picking good politicians and leadership … ???
You know Norman was the PRIMARY sponsor of the save act in 2020. Did you also see Norman outside the NYC courthouse defending Trump against the malicious prosecution? Watch the video. I am more pissed at Trump for stabbing Norman in the back that watching No Nothing Nordone evade all questions.
Good point, Hal. Some of the commenters here on this thread simply don’t know what they are talking about.
I know what I know from long time friends and Brothers-in-Arms who live in So. Carolina … and they obviously know a hell of a lot more than you …
Obviously not. Aloha!
Big deal … and how did THAT work out for us … ??
And why did Trump “bless” Graham’s sister if that’s what it’s all about … ??
You don’t know much about 21st century “politics” … or what passes for it, do you ???
Nordone or Norman — you’ve got two losers running … enjoy.
Jim DeMint was a good conservative Senator. He bucked Sen. McConnell and was unfortunately shown the door.
Lindsey Graham had some admirable qualities. He too loved our state and was able to secure funding for our troops and bases.
Imagine if you would the “giant sucking sound” that occurred with NAFTA. Businesses went overseas and people lost their jobs, sometimes their homes, restaurants closed, other small businesses were shuttered, it was a nightmare.
Imagine if that were to happen with our military based. A giant sucking sound would occur.
The GOPE has flicked a coin in the direction of the South Carolina voter and declared, “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose.”
The GOPe can go to hell.
Graham ahead. Norman seems to take the North West and Graham takes the rest so far.
My opinion is to give her a chance and see how she performs by November. Norman turns me off!
So if you don’t like her so much between now and Nov you will vote for the Commie Dem?
Makes you wonder doesn’t it?
No, I’ll still vote for her because as much as I don’t think she should have run, I won’t vote for a democrat.
I won’t vote for a candidate I have no confidence in. Nordone’s brother was a detestable warmonger who kept the grift going with the help of his buddy Zman. Why would his “heir” be any different?
I will not be able to support this preselected figurehead of the Uniparty.
I intend not to vote for a pig in a poke. I’ll pass.
It is amazing how Trump is loyal to people who are not loyal to him.
Can you elaborate?
This precious beauty did not vote for VSGPDJT 2016….2020…2024…..
We voted around 5:30 p.m. and we were the only ones there besides the poll workers. Looks like low turnout again. This week I’ve been bombarded with text messages and voicemails telling me President Trump wants me to vote for Darlene Graham. I don’t care for Ralph Norman, but he got my vote. I wonder what the outcome would’ve been if Trump had stayed out of it or endorsed Norman. Looks like Norman is carrying most of the Upstate, bur the rest is going to Graham.
I voted 9:30 this morning for Norman. I was the only one in line to vote. It’s hard for me to understand the lack of interest in this election. Control of the U.S. Senate is at stake here!
I honestly think the upstate is less corrupt than the old school other districts down around columbia and charleston. Also Norman’s district was in upstate so the people there are more likely to support him because they’re happy with the guy. He was a much better choice than Darline but oh well we get what we got.
Good point, Ron.
We do not have “Birthright Senatorship” in the United States of America.
Early counts don’t look good for Rep. Norman.
For this Senate seat, “put not your trust in princes, nor in the sons of man in whom there is _no_ salvation.”
Greenville has a lot of votes yet to be counted. So far it is for Norman so he may catch up by quite a lot toward the end.
Graham will do better at splitting the women’s vote in the general election against Ann Andrews.
So tired of this political BS. It’s definitely not for the people they’re supposed to represent.
The amount of disdain (hatred?) so many of you express here is repugnant.
As of this moment (just about 8:30 pm EST) she’s significantly ahead. She may turn out to be an excellent MAGA vote.
We know for sure that Darlene Graham did not vote for Donald Trump in 2016 or 2024 because she did not vote alt all. That tells me something about what to expect from her in the senate.
Not directed to any persons, it’s disdain and hatred for how the corrupt uniparty sausage is made.
She has zero experience and what we do know about her, such as her biggest donors, tell us she is a warmonger, green energy scam, globohomo, Israel First, Wall Street candidate and will be disappointing just like her brother was.
It looks like she is going to win so now we have six years to find out who’s predictions are right. I pray I’m wrong, I want to be wrong about this. We shall see.
President Trump thinks she will vote for him on his agenda. That is the specific issue that matters in the next two years.
He needs MAGA votes.
I agree 100%. All I need to know is she is surrounded by the people that surrounded Lindsey Graham. Ralph Norman is ten times the candidate Lindsey Graham was, and I’m not positive Lindsey’s sister will accomplish the little bit of good that Lindsey did, and I know she’s do all the horrible things he did because his staff is literally running her show. But here we go.
Scramble “VOTE” and you can end up with “VETO”.
(Wordman rubbing off on me)! LOL
Oh I sure that Graham will be a solid MAGA voter, given that Murkowski endorsed her and sent her money.
Remains to be seen.
She knows she’d never have won this (race now called for her) without PDJT.
I expect she’ll be faithful and loyal to him.
Lindsey wasn’t. All of his staff runs her show, with the slight caveat that she has no clue what she’s doing and now she’s in charge of our state’s representation in the senate. Not good.
70% in and Graham at 52.5
Norman 47.5
These numbers have held pretty much the same since 20% in a couple hours back.
I don’t know what’s still left to count, tho.
At 73% now and margin is growing for Graham. Look like AP just called it for her.
Just in case, I’m going to coin a new nickname for Darlene Graham…
“Dixie Murkowsky”
You heard it here first.
She’s honest and sincere . what more can you ask? Really?
Honest and sincere?
Don’t make us regret the 19th.
AP called race for Graham.
Whatever your feelings about the winner it should be all hands on deck to keep this seat in the Senate
York County is the fast growing suberb basically of Charlotte just over the boarder. Greenville is a fast growing area with lots of new businesses, tech companies and even manufacturing. Norman won all that.
Columbia, Lexingington, Charleston is old-school South Caroilna and was Lindsey’s stomping grounds. Incredible corruption all around, so of course Darline won all that. It’s the lair of the SC GOP machine.
President Trump can weather a Norman win, should that happen. He has been loyal to Lindsey Graham. Good job.
Trump all the way.
But can we weather Grahmnesty 2.0?
Glancing at the latest vote tally it looks like the American Woman Graham is going to win.
I don’t need your war machines.
AP has an interesting “Votes counted” map. The farther away from the coast, basically any county further inland from Columbia, seems to be Norman country, and anything down toward the coast is Graham country. This is at about 70% counted as I write. The most remaining uncounted votes seem to be in Norman country. Graham may be ahead right now, but this looks like it is going to be a squeaker.
Coasts are leftist and democrat strongholds.
The left leaners are voting for Graham. America First is voting for Norman.
Are you trying to say America First is different than President Trump?
It’s not.
Without President Trump we would be a collapsed country and moving into communism. And yet you think it’s a good idea to disregard what President Trump asks?
He thinks she will vote his MAGA agenda and that is his whole point.
Correct. Liberals and carpetbaggers!
AP called it for Graham with 89% counted. The count did tighten up a bit, but it looks like AP made the correct call.
Looks like Graham is going to win. She must be getting the sympathy vote.
Edit note. Fourth line second paragraph. The word “about” is repeated.
Gee-or-gia voters are some kind of stoopid.
Barking Spiders think SC is Georgia 🤗
Establishment uniparty RINOs are celebrating.
America First disappointed again.
I’m In York county, supported Norman. Know him.
Neither choice was great from a MAGA POV , and Darlene will be better supporting PDJT for these two years, but we’ll have a Murkowski on steroids after PDJT leaves office.
Norman is part of “Conservative Inc.” Post PDJT he would have been much better for the subsequent 4 years.
On the plus side, I expect we will be able to make Darlene a one termer pretty easily; in our state a Collins or Murkowski can’t survive , at all.
But it could be a long 4 years post President Trump. Also the first 2 might be problematic at times. I assume she is a shoe in to win.
Oops. Guess Barking Spider is some kind of Stoopid. He gets his accents mixed up at times.
I heard they just called it for her.
My wife and I actually saw Senator Darline late this afternoon, as she was present at the ribbon cutting for our daughter’s new school.
She was wearing a red blazer.
She seems to be a decent person… however, she certainly doesn’t have a ‘larger than life’ personality.
I understand why our President supported her when she was named to finish her brother’s senate term… having close family members finish out a term in office is apparently a long-standing tradition.
However, running for a full 6-year term starts to feel more like you’re inheriting a royal post, rather than running in merit.
My wife is no national security expert (nor am I)… but it doesn’t fill me with confidence when a Joe Schmoe like me knows more about countries and issues than a person who wants to serve in the United States Senate.
That does not fill me with confidence.
DJT has less than 2.5 years left in office. Anyone elected to the Senate this November will stay in office until
January of 2033.
It does give the impression that PDJT does not take his endorsements seriously.
Darn! I’ll vote for her in November, but only because the alternative is so bad.
I need to go find a Dinky the Duck or similar video on IG to make me laugh. I think I’m all caught up on Oreogate so it won’t be that.
Oklahoma is 50% for each Republican in the runoff so far.
This was a terrible situation.
I suppose I’d have gone with the idea that NO track record is better than a long and bad one.
I feel like this could have also been a part of how the President was viewing it too. We know what the other one is all about, she will be workable if taught right- in theory anyway.
Yes but Norman DOESNT have a long and bad track record. It says you’re in NH, with all due respect you know nothing about these two candidates. They sold you on the idea that Norman has a bad track record, he doesn’t, he’s one of the most conservative guys in the senate and has done a great job for his district in SC.
Ummm…. Yay?
Lefties very sad tonite over this Graham win.
Thy’ve been hoping against hope that her loss would prove that nobody pays attention to Trump endorsements.
But she’s not good for SC.
Think Amy Comy Barett , a one trick wonder i.e. overturn row v wade / pass save act then turn into an absolute DEI fool.
And we’ll be stuck with her long after trump.
Lefties endorsed her and gave her money. They are very happy.
Mike Mazzei has taken the lead. He is endorsed by President Trump.
Trump made the right call in Oklahoma. Mazzei is the better choice.
Race is very close right now, Mazzei with a small lead. Could go either way.
Well ok it be Darline- I am not a political expert but I would have voted for a known person- her opponent. We’ll see where it goes in November
Congratulations to GOP Senatorial candidate Darline Graham-Nordone and to President Trump for endorsing and supporting her. If she wins in November, I expect she will be especially loyal to President Trump. It will take time for her to adjust, but for the remainder of Trump’s time in office, Darline will be a Trump ally. Any criticism of her at this point is unfounded and pure speculation.