Trump rallies in South Carolina Senate race

President Donald Trump returned to South Carolina on Thursday, marking his second visit to the state within a month.

The trip underscores growing anxiety among Republicans regarding Darline Graham, the appointed senator facing a strong challenge from Democrat Annie Andrews. Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster in July to fill the remainder of her brother's term. She secured the party nomination in August for a full six-year term. Trump praised her candidacy, noting that she has the political gene of her late brother. He also recalled pressuring her to run when other Republicans sought the seat, telling her, “I got you into this thing, Darline.”

Graham positioned herself as the protector of recent legislative victories. She commended Trump for delivering promises made over decades and warned that Andrews would discard those gains. Andrews, a pediatrician who previously ran for Congress, framed her campaign around change. Speaking in Fort Mill on Wednesday, she told voters that if they elected her and grew unhappy with her work in Washington, they could remove her in six years. She added, “I promise that I won’t let you down, that I’m going to win you all over.”

The race is complicated by voter frustration with economic conditions, gas prices, and the war in Iran. These issues have put Republicans on the defensive in a state that has not sent a Democrat to the Senate in nearly three decades. Andrews is courting disaffected Republicans like Brent Chaplin, a 37-year-old finance professional. Chaplin, a registered Republican who voted for Trump in 2016, said it is difficult to identify with the party right now. He encouraged voters to think beyond party lines, stating, “You just can’t go and say I’m a Republican, I’m just going to vote Republican.” Another voter, Benjamin Updegraft, a 32-year-old software engineer, expressed concern that the seat might remain in the Graham family. He noted, “The Senate is not an inherited position.”

While in South Carolina, Trump also addressed contests in other states. He spent part of his speech on races in North Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Minnesota, and Alaska. His focus on Alaska followed a Wednesday report by The New York Times that the Democratic campaign for Mary Peltola was involved in recruiting another candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. State Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered an investigation into the matter. Trump labeled the development a “conspiracy” and called for Peltola’s removal from the ballot. Peltola’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, Peltola suggested during a stop in Soldotna that the report was a distraction from Sullivan’s support of the Iran war.

The final days of the campaign are marked by volatility as parties allocate resources. A Saturday rally in Kansas planned to aid GOP Sen. Roger Marshall against Democrat Adam Hamilton has been changed to a virtual tele-rally. Two people familiar with the plans said Trump will hold tele-rallies in two dozen states, including Texas, Kansas, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The Mississippi Senate race is also drawing close attention from both parties. Republicans are navigating tight contests in several states, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa, and Alaska, as they seek to maintain control of Congress.