In South Carolina, Sen. Darline Graham advances to a GOP special primary runoff for U.S. Senate

Filed 1w ago · Via NPR · The Buffoon Desk

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Kevin MacLeod · incompetech.com · CC BY 4.0

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South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham, appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to complete her late brother Lindsey Graham's term, advanced to an Aug. 25 runoff after failing to win Tuesday's primary outright. She'll face Rep. Ralph Norman, a House Freedom Caucus member endorsed by Sens. Mike Lee and Rick Scott, in the runoff.

Trump backed Graham and campaigned for her at a tele-rally, calling her tough and saying she'd help advance his agenda; she says she'll focus on cost-of-living concerns rather than her brother's national security focus. Other candidates, including Rep. Russell Fry and former Gov. Mark Sanford — who brought two piglets named Pork and Barrel to the Statehouse as a stunt — trailed in the crowded field.

Voters interviewed gave mixed reasons for their choices, with some citing Trump's endorsement as a bonus rather than a deciding factor, and others preferring candidates' experience or demeanor. Roughly 61,000 Republicans voted early over three days before the primary.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.

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An endorsement from the sitting president used to be a golden ticket in a GOP primary; here it barely bought a plurality. Voters citing Trump's blessing as a nice-to-have rather than a must-have is either a crack in the wall or just South Carolina being South Carolina. Either way, the piglets were probably the most honest campaign props on offer.

Source: Read the original at NPR → Scored: The Builder · Kevin MacLeod · CC BY 4.0

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