Trump boosts Graham in tight South Carolina race
11 sourcesUpdated Oct 29, 20261 min read
President Donald Trump rallied South Carolina Republicans in Rock Hill on Oct. 29, 2026, urging them to elect Sen. Darline Graham five days before the Nov. 3 midterms. He spoke roughly 90 minutes at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center, his second visit to the state that month. A New York Times poll a day earlier showed Graham nearly tied with Democrat Annie Andrews. Trump said Graham was the only choice for the proud patriots of South Carolina. Graham, appointed after her brother Sen. Lindsey Graham died, thanked supporters for love and prayers in our darkest days and told Trump he would always be part of the Graham family. She called Andrews plain old batshit crazy; Trump also criticized Andrews's record. Gov. Henry McMaster said Graham walks like we do. Alan Wilson said she would trade the seat 1,000 times over to have her brother but answered the call. Speakers warned against third-party votes including Libertarian Kasie Whitener. Ralph Norman, defeated by Graham in a primary runoff after Trump's endorsement, said he was not invited and would not have attended. Trump criticized N.C. former Gov. Roy Cooper's record; Cooper's campaign disputed it. Andrews held a Rock Hill rally the night before. Voting is Nov. 3.
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A Trump endorsement five days out won't move enough voters if that New York Times poll holds up in South Carolina.
Trump's last-minute push for Graham in Rock Hill could tip the scales in a race this tight with Andrews.
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