Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) are virtually tied in the final poll before voters cast their ballots in Tuesday’s special primary runoff election for the Senate.
The Trafalgar Group survey shows Graham Nordone barely leading Norman, with 47.9% to 47.8% for the respective candidates. Neither has majority support. The data also show 4.4% of South Carolina voters remain undecided.
The poll’s findings reflect how competitive the race has been since Graham Nordone was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC) to serve the remainder of her late brother’s term. Lindsey Graham, 71, died unexpectedly due to heart complications last month.
With an endorsement from President Donald Trump, Graham Nordone decided to run for a full term in the Aug. 11 special primary election. Two weeks ago, she secured nearly 32.8% of the vote compared to Norman’s 24.6%. In Tuesday’s runoff, the incumbent needs more votes, preferably an outright majority, to hold on to her Senate seat.
But if the latest poll is any indication, Norman is expected to give Graham Nordone a run for her money.
Graham Nordone may have support from Trump, McMaster, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and even her former Republican primary rival, Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), but public doubts about her qualifications for the job have risen since her debate with Norman.
In a notable moment during the Aug. 18 runoff debate, Graham Nordone admitted she was “not that informed on national security” when posed with a question on the tensions between China and Taiwan.
“I’m not a polished politician up here,” she said. “National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise. But I do support the military.”
Similar lackluster responses at the debate and on the campaign trail have raised questions about her policy views on various issues, including abortion. She supports the anti-abortion movement. However, the senator failed to provide a definitive answer when she was asked about a complete ban on abortion.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America backed Graham Nordone last week while Students for Life Action, a similar anti-abortion group, supported Norman.
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It remains to be seen if Graham Nordone has distinguished herself enough in the race to beat Norman, who is running as a fifth-term “proven conservative” congressman in the House Freedom Caucus. The election results will start coming in on Tuesday night after polls close at 7 p.m. across the state.
The Trafalgar Group surveyed 1,031 respondents between Aug 22 and 24. The poll has a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.