President Donald Trump returns to the Grand Strand to campaign with U.S. Sen. Darline Graham. Trump’s appearance at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Friday, Aug. 21, is in advance of Aug. 25 South Carolina Republican special election primary runoff between Graham, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman. Aug. 21, 2026.
jlee@thesunnews.com
President Donald Trump plans campaign in Clemson for U.S. Sen. Darline Graham on Wednesday, Oct. 21, the Republican National Committee announced.
The exact location of the rally has yet to be released, but Trump is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
It will be Trump’s second stop in South Carolina this year after he campaigned for Graham in Myrtle Beach in August.
Trump’s Myrtle Beach rally in August was consequential in Graham securing the Republican nomination, political watchers said at the time. He campaigned with Graham in a county the appointed senator eventually dominated in the special primary runoff against U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman.
The Upstate is considered a Republican stronghold in the state. However, support for Graham was weakest in counties there during the Republican primary and subsequent runoff in August. Norman carried the Upstate in the runoff including Anderson and Pickens counties in the special August runoff.
Despite Graham being the GOP nominee, a movement on social media has encouraged conservative voters to write-in Norman for the seat. A Libertarian candidate, Kasie Whitener, also is on the ballot and votes for her or Norman would take away support for Graham. The fear is it could be enough to propel Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews to victory.
South Carolina’s Upstate, where Trump will campaign, is considered “solidly Republican” by the Cook Political Report.
The most competitive U.S. House race in South Carolina may be the 1st Congressional District, where there is no incumbent. Republican Jenny Costa Honeycutt and Democratic nominee Nancy Lacore are competing in a race rated “likely Republican.” But Trump isn’t scheduled to rally there.
His visit also follows a telephone rally Trump held Thursday for Graham.
The president’s visit follows a controversial social media attack against Andrews on Oct. 5. He used an anti-transgender slur against Andrews, who is not transgender.
A recent poll has shown a potentially tight race for U.S. Senate. A September poll from Trafalgar found Graham and Andrews within about one percentage point. Nearly 6% of those polled responded “other” and 8.5% were undecided.
Other outside support is also reportedly coming to South Carolina in support of Graham. Axios reported a super PAC for Senate GOP candidates will infuse $5 million into Graham’s campaign ahead Election Day. 314 Action, a political group supporting Democratic scientists, said Tuesday it would bundle $3.6 million in donations to Andrews’ campaign. Total fundraising for Graham and Andrews in July, August and September will be reported next week.
