Trump brings rally to South Carolina to boost Darline Graham in Senate race

President Donald Trump arrived in Pendleton, South Carolina, on Wednesday to hold a rally aimed at boosting the campaign of U.S. Senator Darline Graham. The visit occurs as the race for a six-year Senate term in the reliably red state has become unexpectedly tight. Trump, who is barnstorming across conservative America this week to shore up support for Republican candidates in competitive races, sought to reassure voters about Graham’s qualifications. He stated that the late Senator Lindsey Graham held his sister in high esteem, describing her as smart and incredible while asserting she would never let voters down. The political landscape shifted dramatically following the sudden death of Lindsey Graham in July due to an aortic tear. Graham had been on a trajectory toward a fifth term when his passing upended the election cycle. His sister, Darline Graham, formerly the director of the state agency for the blind, was appointed to finish his term with bipartisan support. However, her decision to run for the seat in the midterms sparked skepticism among some observers regarding her readiness, given her status as a political neophyte. Trump moved quickly to endorse Darline Graham, portraying her as a strong ally and stating the endorsement was made in honor of her brother. He helped her secure the party nomination in a special primary against several more experienced Republican opponents, including U.S. Representative Ralph Norman. Despite this backing, tensions emerged between the president and the senator over the weekend. Trump issued an executive order waiving most sanctions and tariffs on Russia that were set to be imposed under a law named after Lindsey Graham. This decision created a rift, though Trump maintained his public support for Graham during the rally. At the event, Trump was repeatedly interrupted by protesters early in his speech. He criticized Graham’s Democratic opponent, pediatrician Annie Andrews, calling her the most extreme and crazy person in the country and predicting her election would be a disaster. Andrews, who launched her campaign more than a year before Lindsey Graham’s death, initially targeted him directly. After his death, she pivoted to criticize Darline Graham as Trump-endorsed and unqualified. In a fundraising appeal, Andrews claimed that Darline Graham called on Trump to campaign for her because her momentum was strong. Speaking to a local media outlet before the rally, Andrews highlighted Graham’s debate performance, specifically an admission that she was not well-informed on national security. Graham responded by labeling Andrews the most radical liberal to run for state office in South Carolina. Republicans have poured more than $34 million into the race, hammering Andrews as a radical liberal and accusing her of supporting surgeries for transgender minors, accusations she denies. Andrews centers her message on building an affordable South Carolina, arguing that Republican policies have weakened the economy and harmed families. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is from South Carolina, spoke ahead of Trump. He noted that Graham is driven by the same hope for America that motivated her brother, stating that with Trump in the White House and Graham in the Senate, citizens could hope for a better country. Local residents expressed varying sentiments about the contest. Nanette Tumbleston, waiting at a weekend event in Mount Pleasant, voiced fear that the seat might fall to Democrats. She expressed concern over progressive influence within the Democratic Party and hoped voters would remain vigilant to ensure a Republican victory. Polls indicate Graham leads by approximately 2.7 percentage points, according to a Real Clear Politics average. Trump carried the state by 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. The president continues to implore voters to pretend he is on the ballot in hopes of averting low midterm turnout for Republicans. The campaign remains focused on the November 3 vote, with both sides actively engaging in daily rallies and media appearances.