Trump rallies for Darline Graham ahead of US Senate runoff

MYRTLE BEACH — President Donald Trump asked thousands of supporters gathered Friday in Myrtle Beach to vote for U.S. Sen. Darline Graham as a tribute to her late brother.

Graham faces U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s runoff to replace her brother, Lindsey Graham, as the GOP’s Senate nominee for the next six-year term. Trump told attendees to pretend he’s on the ballot.

“For Lindsey, I want it to happen,” Trump told the crowd gathered in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

“I’ll make you a deal, if Darline wins, I’ll come down and play the best golfer in Myrtle Beach,” he joked.

In return, she called Trump one of her brother’s closest friends, adding Trump would “forever be a part of the Graham family.

A political novice, Graham campaigned for her brother, who died unexpectedly July 11 of a ruptured aorta, and accepted Gov. Henry McMaster’s appointment to fulfill the remainder of his fourth term. But she had never sought elected office herself until the president urged her to jump in the race.

“I said, Darline, you gotta do it,” Trump told the crowd. “I think Lindsey respected Darline more than any other person he knows, including me.”

Darline Graham has embraced her lack of experience, comparing her run to Trump’s own presidential bid.

“The critics say I shouldn’t run for the Senate. They say I’m not a politician,” she said. “You know what I say? Guilty as charged. And by the way, President Trump had never served in an elected office before, and I think he’s done a damn good job.”

Earlier Friday, South Carolina’s current and former governors issued opposing endorsements in the race.

Ahead of attending the rally, Gov. Henry McMaster added his endorsement of Graham.

“Since July, Darline Graham has stepped up and immediately begun working to serve the people of South Carolina,” McMaster wrote on social media. “She has stood for the values that South Carolinians live by, continued Lindsey Graham’s work and stood firmly with President Trump to Advance his America First agenda.”

McMaster joined U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, the third-place finisher in the Aug. 11 primary, and Sen. Tim Scott in supporting the political newcomer. Both were also on the rally stage.

“MAGA is strong when we work as a team — this team right here,” said Fry, who’s running for re-election to the 7th District.

In the Aug. 11 primary, Fry won every county in the 7th District. Both Graham and Norman are seeking to win over his supporters.   

Meanwhile, Norman has the backing of South Carolina’s two prior governors: former Govs. Nikki Haley and Mark Sanford, who placed fourth in the 10-way primary. Norman was an ally of both governors while in the state House, as he consistently voted to uphold their vetoes.

“I have seen first hand his experience in legislative circles, matched by a conservative voting record and conservative stands,” Sanford wrote on social media earlier Friday.

As the former 1st District congressman, Sanford also worked alongside Norman toward the end of his last stint in the U.S. House.

Haley announced her support for Norman last week. She also backed his unsuccessful run for governor earlier this year. Norman backed Haley’s 2024 bid for president against Trump.

While Trump, Fry and Graham rallied in Fry’s home district, Norman held a town hall in Anderson, in place of a state Republican Party event canceled in the wake of Trump’s announced visit.

What did voters say?

The rally at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center attracted people from across South Carolina and beyond.

Stephanie Gray woke her family up at 4:30 a.m. and drove four hours from their farm in Barnwell to see the president and Graham.

“It’s important that they know our history,” Gray said of her family, especially her 10-year-old daughter whom she homeschools.

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“This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing for her because we’re so rural,” Gray added. “We don’t get to see things like this that often.”

Gray, 40, also said she’ll support Graham in the upcoming runoff. Her 30 years in state government includes heading the Commission for the Blind for the last seven.

“She’s helped with South Carolina’s disabled and the blind and she’s a hard worker,” Gray said. “That’s good enough for me.”

Jennifer McDonald Bodge was among voters who didn’t have to travel far.

“I like her even better than her brother,” said the Myrtle Beach resident, who was near the front of the line to enter the event.

On the other hand, Joanne Arneberg, also of Myrtle Beach, was one of nearly 13,800 Horry County voters who cast a ballot for Fry in the 10-candidate primary.

She’s still trying to decide whether she’ll support Graham or Norman in the runoff.

“I don’t know much about Darlene Graham or Ralph Norman for that matter,” she said. “The thing I appreciate about Ralph Norman is that he’s his own businessman. And he’s been in office already, so he understands the D.C. area.”

As a first-time candidate, Graham doesn’t have a political record, “so where does she really stand? What is she really thinking?” said the 61-year-old who works in construction. “It’s hard to determine is she just running on the coattails of her brother, or does she really have some strong opinions.”

Arneberg’s husband Scott, a 62-year-old salesman, said he voted for Graham and will continue supporting her.

“I like that she stepped up after her brother dying and made a point to fill his shoes,” he said.

The crowd also included people who can’t vote for either candidate.

The Guglielmettis, a New York family who visits Myrtle Beach several times a year, pushed up their vacation when they heard the president would be in town.

“It was easier to come to South Carolina than it was to go to Madison Square Garden,” Louis Guglielmetti said.

Friday marked the first time he, his wife and his 19-year-old daughter were able to see Trump in person.

“I want to hear that the future will be better for my children and my grandchildren,” Louis Guglielmetti said. “That’s what I’m concerned about: the future of this country.”