President Trump has staked his credibility on Senator Darline Graham ahead of South Carolina’s Senate runoff. He rallied supporters in Myrtle Beach, pressured officials to endorse her, and utilized MAGA Inc. for text campaigns. This follows previous rejections of his preferences in the state, including a gubernatorial choice and a congressional map that would have eliminated a majority Black district.

Graham faces Representative Ralph Norman, a hard-line conservative who has occasionally angered the president. The winner will challenge Dr. Annie Andrews in November. Although Graham won the special primary with Trump’s support, recent events have shifted momentum. She stumbled during a debate regarding national security, admitting she was “not that informed on Taiwan,” while local GOP chapters endorsed Norman.

Voter sentiment appears mixed. Some attendees at Trump’s rally seemed tepid, citing her lack of foreign policy knowledge. Others expressed skepticism about Washington insiders choosing their senator, with State Treasurer Curtis Loftis calling it “inside establishment B.S.” Despite these challenges, Graham continues to rely on Trump’s backing to secure victory in the solidly Republican state.