GOP Super PAC Injects $5M into South Carolina as Darline Graham Faces Tight Race

Key points

• The Senate Leadership Fund is injecting $5 million into the South Carolina Senate race as an 'insurance policy' for Darline Graham.
• Polls from Trafalgar and InsiderAdvantage show the race between Graham and Annie Andrews is statistically tied, with margins of 1-2 points.
• Trump used an anti-transgender slur against Andrews on Truth Social, while Andrews' campaign focuses on economic issues like gas and grocery prices.
• Republicans are shifting resources away from North Carolina, where they are losing, and into South Carolina and Kansas to defend their Senate majority.
• Andrews is outspending and outraising Graham, with her campaign spending $6.1 million on ads since September compared to $687,000 from outside GOP groups.

Background

Darline Graham was appointed to the Senate in July after the sudden death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. She won the August GOP runoff with 52% of the vote, backed by President Trump. Earlier this month, the Senate Leadership Fund canceled ad spending in North Carolina, signaling a shift in Republican strategy to defend seats in states like South Carolina and Kansas.

How outlets are covering it

Axios and NBC News report that the $5 million injection from the Senate Leadership Fund is a defensive move to shore up Graham's campaign, which is struggling with fundraising and polling. Axios notes that Graham is a poor fundraiser compared to Andrews, while NBC emphasizes that Andrews has spent nearly 10 times more on ads since September. WYFF and CNN focus on Trump's personal involvement, highlighting his use of a slur against Andrews and his praise for Graham. Andrews' campaign, as reported by WYFF, dismisses the slur as a distraction and focuses on economic issues. The 314 Action Fund, which supports Andrews, called Trump 'perverted' and accused him of name-calling because his candidate cannot win on the issues.

Why it matters

The South Carolina Senate race is a bellwether for the 2026 midterms. A state that Trump carried by 18 points in 2024 is now considered competitive, indicating a shift in the political landscape. The race also highlights the challenges facing Republican incumbents and challengers in states previously considered safe, as Democrats reallocate resources and gain momentum in swing states.

What to watch

The Senate Leadership Fund will spend the $5 million mainly on TV ads to remind voters that Andrews is a Democrat. Andrews' campaign will continue to focus on economic issues and outspend Graham. Trump is expected to continue campaigning for Graham, while Democrats will monitor the race as a test of their ability to flip seats in conservative states.