GOP Super PAC Invests $5 Million in South Carolina Senate Race

A prominent Republican super PAC has committed $5 million to support Senator Darline Graham in her bid for the South Carolina Senate seat, according to sources confirmed on Tuesday. The influx of funds from the Senate Leadership Fund signals heightened concern within the party regarding the contest, despite South Carolina’s reputation as a reliably Republican stronghold.

President Donald Trump secured the state by an 18-point margin in 2024, and Graham’s late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, won re-election in 2020 by 10 points even against a well-funded Democratic challenger. No Democrat has successfully won a Senate seat in South Carolina since the close of the 20th century.

The financial commitment was initially reported by Axios. Graham was appointed to the vacancy in July following the death of her brother, a long-serving senator and close Trump ally. After Lindsey Graham won his primary just weeks before his passing, Darline Graham emerged victorious in the subsequent special primary to secure the November ballot spot.

Tensions in the race have intensified as President Trump has ramped up his attacks on Democratic nominee Annie Andrews. On Monday, Trump posted on social media using an anti-transgender slur to refer to Andrews, writing that she was running against “our wonderful Darline Graham.”

Andrews, a pediatrician, has stated she does not support gender confirmation surgery for minors. While she previously opposed legislation banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, she told The New York Times last week that she does not believe biological males should compete in women’s athletics.

Transgender rights have emerged as a focal point in the 2024 election cycle, with Republican messaging often contrasting Democratic support for transgender rights against Trump’s stance. This year, GOP operatives are attempting to replicate that strategy by linking Democratic candidates to transgender issues, though the effectiveness of such tactics remains uncertain.

In response to Trump’s comments late Monday, Andrews did not directly address the president but instead emphasized economic priorities, stating, “if you care more about your bills than the politics in Washington, this campaign is for you.”

Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley, a Republican, criticized Trump’s remarks to CBS News, calling them “such a disgrace.”