Trump rallies for Graham in South Carolina

President Donald Trump returned to South Carolina on Thursday to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham, a move that reflects deepening concerns within the party about her standing against Democrat Annie Andrews. This is the second time Trump has visited the state in a month to assist the race. The intervention comes as Republicans face pressure to hold onto their Senate majority in a midterm year defined by voter dissatisfaction with economic conditions and foreign policy.

Graham’s path to the general election was rapid and unconventional. She was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster in July to serve out the remainder of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham’s, term following his sudden death. She secured the party’s nomination for the full six-year seat in August. Trump acknowledged his role in her candidacy during his speech on Thursday. “I got you into this thing, Darline,” he quipped to the crowd.

The political landscape has shifted since the last Senate election in the state, when a Democrat last held the seat nearly three decades ago. Andrews, a pediatrician who previously sought a House seat, is capitalizing on voter frustration. She told supporters in Fort Mill on Wednesday that if they elect her and are unhappy with her work, “you can fire me in six years.” She urged voters to “try something new for once.”

Graham, speaking before Trump, praised the president for delivering on long-promised Washington changes. She warned that Andrews “would just throw it all away.” Trump described his late ally as “a great politician” and asserted that Darline Graham “got the gene.”

Voters are expressing mixed feelings about the race. Brent Chaplin, a 37-year-old finance professional and registered Republican, said it is “hard to be that right now.” He voted for Trump in 2016 but chose Andrews this time. “You’ve got to put some brainpower into it and think about it,” Chaplin said. Benjamin Updegraft, a 32-year-old software engineer, criticized the notion of a family dynasty, stating, “The Senate is not an inherited position.”

Trump’s attention is divided beyond South Carolina. He addressed tight contests in North Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Minnesota, and Alaska during his speech. His focus on Alaska intensified after The New York Times reported that the Democratic campaign appeared to be recruiting a candidate with the same name as incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan. Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into the matter.

Trump labeled the Alaska situation a “conspiracy” and called for the removal of Democrat Mary Peltola from the ballot. He suggested he might doubt whether she would be seated even if she won. Peltola’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Peltola herself suggested the report was a “distraction” from Sullivan’s support for the war in Iran.

Campaign logistics are shifting in the final days. A rally scheduled for Saturday in Kansas has been converted into a virtual tele-rally to aid Sen. Roger Marshall against Democrat Adam Hamilton. Trump is planning tele-rallies in two dozen states, including Texas, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, according to two people familiar with the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity.