President Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday to encourage Republican voters to support Sen. Darline Graham in an upcoming runoff election. The winner of Tuesday’s primary will become the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in the general election scheduled for November. Graham is serving as interim senator following the July death of her brother, former Sen. Lindsey Graham, and is competing against Rep. Ralph Norman for the party’s nomination.
Trump has strongly endorsed Graham’s candidacy and previously encouraged her to enter the race. During the rally, he acknowledged lower turnout when he is not personally on the ballot by asking supporters to “pretend” he was running in order to motivate them to vote. He stated that Graham’s victory would preserve tax cuts and serve as a tribute to her late brother, with whom Trump said he was close. Gov. Henry McMaster, another Trump ally, officially endorsed Graham hours before the rally and appointed her to the interim position last month.
Graham, a former state agency administrator, has emphasized her status as a political newcomer and highlighted her limited time serving in the U.S. Senate as qualifications for the position. She has regularly referenced Trump’s endorsement and support for his policy priorities throughout her campaign. Norman, her opponent, has represented South Carolina in the U.S. House since 2017. The rally represented a significant Trump campaign appearance on behalf of a candidate in this election cycle, underscoring the importance he is placing on Graham’s success in the primary.
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