Graham Wins South Carolina Senate Primary Runoff
Listen to the story
Darline Graham has won the Republican primary runoff for a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina. She defeated fellow Republican Ralph Norman in the 2026 special election contest.
The seat became open after the death of Graham's brother, who had held the position. A runoff was needed because no candidate won a majority in the first round of voting.
Graham's win means she will now move forward to compete in the special general election later in 2026. Norman, who was seen as a strong contender, was defeated in the runoff vote.
The race has drawn national attention because of what it could mean for President Trump. Analysts say South Carolina's result could either give Trump a boost or become an embarrassing setback, depending on how the general election unfolds.
This is one of several special elections taking place in 2026 to fill seats left empty during the current term. Special elections are held outside the normal election calendar, usually because a seat has become vacant early.
The outcome in South Carolina will be closely watched by both political parties as an early sign of how voters feel ahead of the broader 2026 election season. Full results and next steps for the general election are expected to be announced soon.
Vocabulary5 words
- primary
- a vote to choose which candidate will represent a party
- runoff
- a second vote used when no one wins enough support the first time
- contender
- someone who has a good chance of winning a contest
- special elections
- extra elections held when a seat becomes empty early
- setback
- a problem that stops progress or causes a loss
Quiz
Answer key
1. The previous senator, Graham's brother, died 2. She moves on to the special general election 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Darline Graham has won the Republican _____ runoff for a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina. She defeated fellow Republican Ralph Norman in the 2026 special election contest.
The seat became open after the death of Graham's brother, who had held the position. A _____ was needed because no candidate won a majority in the first round of voting.
Graham's win means she will now move forward to compete in the special general election later in 2026. Norman, who was seen as a strong _____, was defeated in the runoff vote.
The race has drawn national attention because of what it could mean for President Trump. Analysts say South Carolina's result could either give Trump a boost or become an embarrassing _____, depending on how the general election unfolds.
This is one of several _____ taking place in 2026 to fill seats left empty during the current term.