By admin 
A hasty primary gave way to a heated runoff where the President of the United States stumped for one Republican candidate over another in a solidly red state.
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It seems President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Sen. Darline Graham held weight for South Carolina voters, especially in Horry County, carrying Graham to victory.
Support for Graham among Horry County voters soared from roughly 35.3% in the primary race to 73.3% in the runoff election, which was just days after Trump stumped for her in Myrtle Beach.
Voter turnout also grew from the primary election to the runoff. In Horry County, about 12.3% of registered voters showed up for the special primary election and 13.7% – 3,447 more people – voted in the runoff.
A crowded primary
The late Sen. Lindsey Graham handily won his Republican primary in June before his death in July. Soon after, Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to finish her brother’s term and a special primary election was organized for Aug. 11.
With Lindsey Graham out of the running for the first time in more than 20 years, 10 candidates filed to appear on the ballot.
Darline Graham and Norman came in first and second place, consecutively, advancing to the runoff. Locked in a tight race with eight candidates out of the way, Graham and Norman scrambled to court their former opponents’ supporters.
Despite her lack of political experience and short campaign, Graham went into the runoff with an edge. Republican politicians from the president to Sen. Tim Scott and Myrtle Beach Rep. Russell Fry coalesced around Graham with support campaigns.
Then, less than a week before Election Day, Graham made her big announcement. Trump would come to Myrtle Beach to campaign with her in person. The move to endorse a political newcomer over a hard-right representative in a reliably Republican state marked Trump’s first foray into South Carolina politics this year.
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U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, a member of the hard-right U.S. House Freedom Caucus. The two candidates finished first and second in the Republican special primary Aug. 11.
Trump’s influence
Fervent fans waited hours to see the president at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, even though some weren’t sold on Graham. But Republican politicians’ message at the Myrtle Beach rally was clear: a vote for Graham would be a vote for Trump.
“What I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said.
Scott shared the same sentiment, telling the crowd, “We must stand united behind Donald J. Trump, and it starts with voting for Darline Graham on Tuesday.”
Beyond the rally, Trump’s PAC MAGA Inc. spent more than $827,000 for Graham leading up to the election.
Not everyone was pleased with the effort. Norman criticized the super PAC money financing Graham’s campaign and, when he referenced Trump in his concession speech, the crowd booed the president.
“The president got involved. That’s his right. That’s his prerogative,” Norman said. “Y’all, his policies are good. I never understood why he got involved in this race…”
Still, Norman accepted his loss and promised to support Graham in the general election. With the Republican nomination secured, Graham will face off against Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews in November.
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