PENDLETON, S.C. — President Donald Trump traveled to South Carolina on Wednesday to campaign alongside Republican Sen. Darline Graham, attempting to reinforce a Senate seat that has grown unexpectedly competitive ahead of the Nov. 3 election, Al Jazeera English reported.
Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was appointed by the state’s governor in July to fill her brother’s seat following his sudden death. Trump quickly endorsed her during a subsequent special primary, helping her secure the Republican nomination. Trump stated at the time that the endorsement came in honor of the late senator, who had been expected to easily win reelection before his death.
A Tightening Battleground
Despite South Carolina’s status as a conservative bastion that Trump won by 18 percentage points in 2024, the current contest has narrowed significantly. According to a RealClearPolitics polling average cited by Al Jazeera English, Graham holds a slim advantage of roughly 2.7 percentage points over her Democratic challenger, Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician.
Andrews has sharply criticized Graham over political inexperience and her path to the ballot. Speaking to a local Fox News affiliate ahead of Trump’s rally in Pendleton, Andrews cited Graham’s debate performance, highlighting a moment when the Republican candidate acknowledged she was “not that informed on national security.” Andrews argued that Graham relies on national figures to carry her campaign. Graham, in response, has labeled Andrews “the most radical liberal that’s ever run for state office in South Carolina.”
Friction Over Foreign Policy
The campaign visit also unfolds against subtle foreign policy disagreements within the party. Lindsey Graham served as a leading congressional advocate for Ukraine, having completed his 10th visit to the nation shortly before his death. However, Trump recently issued an executive order lifting most tariffs and sanctions on Russia that had been enacted through a 2026 bipartisan law bearing Lindsey Graham’s name.
The move drew a public divergence from Darline Graham, who told The Associated Press on Saturday: “Personally, I would choose to put the pressure on Russia to end the war and get gas prices down.” She added, “I don’t trust Putin, and I don’t trust Russia.”
National Midterm Headwinds
The tightening margin in South Carolina mirrors wider challenges confronting Republicans as the midterm elections approach. A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey found Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 32 percent, the lowest level of his presidency, The Guardian US reported. Generic congressional polling also indicates Democratic advantages reaching into the double digits in some national surveys.
Voter dissatisfaction has been driven largely by rising inflation, particularly surging fuel costs linked to ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran. Those economic pressures have placed several typically reliable Republican seats in jeopardy.
- In Kansas, which has not elected a Democratic senator since 1939, polls show Republican Ashley Hinson in a virtual tie with Democrat Joshua Turek amid rural discontent over elevated machinery and fuel prices.
- In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton trails Democratic challenger James Talarico by 1.7 percentage points in polling averages.
With early voting already underway across several states, both parties are watching whether Trump’s eleventh-hour rally in Pendleton can energize conservative turnout or if South Carolina will remain within striking distance for Democrats on Nov. 3.
