Trump-backed Graham faces Templeton in South Carolina runoff

South Carolina’s Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate on Tuesday will test whether Donald Trump’s endorsement still carries the same weight it once did in the state. Former Governor Nikki Haley’s preferred candidate, Katie Arrington, lost Trump’s backing after she challenged Haley in 2018. Now, Trump is backing state Representative Darline Graham in the runoff against former state Senator Catherine Templeton. The race is a litmus test for Trump’s influence ahead of 2024, especially in a state where his endorsements were once decisive.

Trump’s pick for governor in 2018, Arrington, lost to Governor Henry McMaster, who had the governor’s backing but not Trump’s. Since then, Trump has doubled down on endorsements, picking winners in key races like the 2022 South Carolina gubernatorial primary, where he backed McMaster. But Graham’s campaign has struggled to gain momentum, raising less than $300,000 in the first quarter of 2024, compared to Templeton’s $500,000. Polls show the race is tight, with Templeton leading by a few points.

The runoff comes as South Carolina Republicans face internal divisions. The state’s GOP has been a reliable Trump stronghold, but Haley’s lingering influence complicates the picture. Haley, a former Trump ally turned critic, remains popular in the state, and her network could sway voters. Trump’s endorsement of Graham is seen as an attempt to consolidate his base, but Templeton has framed herself as the more electable candidate in a general election.

If Graham wins, it could signal that Trump’s endorsement power is still strong. If Templeton prevails, it may suggest that Trump’s grip on the party is weakening. Either way, the outcome will ripple through South Carolina’s politics and beyond. The race is also a preview of Trump’s role in 2024, where his endorsements could shape the GOP’s future. The runoff’s result will tell us whether South Carolina’s Republicans are still Trump’s party—or if they’re starting to move on.