Trump-backed candidates score primary victories in South Carolina, Oklahoma

South Carolina Senator Darline Graham defeated veteran congressman Ralph Norman, according to projections from CNN and NBC. Meanwhile, Mike Mazzei won Oklahoma's Republican gubernatorial runoff against state attorney general Gentner Drummond.

South Carolina Senator Darline Graham defeated veteran congressman Ralph Norman, according to projections from CNN and NBC. Meanwhile, Mike Mazzei won Oklahoma's Republican gubernatorial runoff against state attorney general Gentner Drummond.

Former Oklahoma Budget Secretary Mike Mazzei defeated state Attorney General Gentner Drummond in the GOP primary runoff to determine the Republican nominee for Oklahoma governor on Tuesday. Mazzei pulled out the GOP runoff win with 50.3% of the vote compared to Drummond’s 49.7%, according to the Associated Press on Tue

Former state Sen. Mike Mazzei’s victory is a relief for the president after several of his chosen candidates fell in other states.

Mike Mazzei, a former state senator who lent more than $11 million of his own money to his campaign, narrowly defeated the state’s attorney general, Gentner Drummond.

President Trump notched two critical wins in South Carolina and Oklahoma on Tuesday, with Sen. Darline Graham (S.C.) and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei (Okla.) clinching the GOP nominations in their respective primary runoff races. The Republican contests served as another key test of the president’s influence in the GO

Trump-Backed Darline Graham Wins South Carolina Primary For Lindsey Graham’s Seat  Forbes

Darline Graham’s victory reinforces president’s hold on the Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm elections

August 25, 2026 Primary Runoff Election Results: Georgia, Oklahoma and South Carolina  AP News

The two candidates are battling at the ballot box for the second time this summer after neither of them secured the needed majority to win the June primary contest.

These special and run-off elections will continue setting the stage for November's midterm elections.

Rep. Seth Moulton, who is challenging Democratic incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts, told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that generational change -- which he has been talking about in some form for 10 years -- is "very authentic to me."