South Carolina GOP Senate runoff pits Graham against Norman

South Carolina voters are heading to the polls Tuesday in a special Republican primary runoff to decide who will fill the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Lindsey Graham. The contest pits interim Senator Darline Graham, the late senator's sister, against U.S. Representative Ralph Norman in a race that has become a test of political name recognition, presidential influence, and conservative credentials.

The runoff follows an August 11 primary in which neither candidate secured a majority. The two-week campaign sprint has been marked by sharp contrasts. Graham, a political newcomer appointed to the seat by Governor Henry McMaster after Lindsey Graham's death on July 11, has centered her campaign on unwavering support for President Donald Trump and his agenda. Norman, a veteran congressman with nearly two decades in elected office, has emphasized his legislative experience and deep roots in South Carolina politics.

President Trump has played an outsized role in the race, endorsing Darline Graham before she officially entered the contest and campaigning for her in Myrtle Beach on August 22. His backing has been a central theme of her campaign. "I want it to happen," Trump...