Darline Graham Faces First Political Test on Tuesday

South Carolina Republicans will have their say Tuesday on whether Lindsey Graham's Senate seat should stay in the family. Darline Graham, a political novice appointed to finish out her late brother's term and backed by President Trump, is one of 10 candidates on the special election primary ballot, reports Reuters. If no one wins a majority, the top two head to an Aug. 25 runoff, with the winner strongly favored against Democrat Annie Andrews in November.

After being appointed to the seat temporarily, Graham decided she would run for a full term of her own. Critics frame her run as a dynastic handoff, while her supporters cast it as a tribute. Politico suggests a likely outcome Tuesday is that Graham wins the first round, but not by a big enough margin to avoid a runoff. And "whoever secures the second place spot will determine just how much more support she may need from Trump to overcome a one-on-one challenge." Other Republicans on the ballot include Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, former Gov. Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark Lynch, who argues voters are "furious" about a "coronation."