Trump visit highlights importance of U.S. Senate runoff

MORNING HEADLINES | A Friday visit by President Trump to South Carolina’s Grand Strand is highlighting the importance of the Aug. 25 GOP runoff for Republicans seeking a candidate on the November ballot to replace the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

On Tuesday, voters will pick between the new incumbent, Graham’s sister Darline, and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, who placed third in June’s gubernatorial primary. Some say the election is also a test of Trump’s pull at the ballot box. He has endorsed Darline Graham.

York County’s Norman is questioning Darline Graham’s credentials, noting that his experience in Congress and business make him a better candidate. Graham has said Norman tried to clean the swamp in Washington and failed, only to come home to S.C. to try – and now wants to go back to Washington.

Other issues that have emerged in the Senate runoff:

Darline Graham’s knowledge of foreign affairs. Some say she flubbed a question about Taiwan’s importance to the U.S. during a televised debate. She has acknowledged that she’s not a professional politician.
Immigration, the national debt and taxes
The power of dark money in the race

Trump’s rally is scheduled to start 7 p.m. Friday at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach. Doors open at 3 p.m. You can register for up to two tickets through the GOP. Horry County residents should expect traffic delays.

Only $4,000 to go on $25,000 August campaign

Local. Free. Independent Those three words represent the foundation on which the stories told by the Charleston City Paper are built. Since 1997, the Charleston City Paper has provided the kind of information that people in Charleston and across South Carolina rely on. Since 2020, the newspaper has won more than 200 state and national awards for news and advertising excellence making it the top weekly newspaper in South Carolina.

Please consider giving today to allow the newspaper to reach its $25,000 August goal and to continue to stay #CharlestonStrong.

In recent headlines

CP NEWS: Women’s health care needs going unmet in S.C., study says. The Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization in Washington, D.C., found 31% of the 2,780 women, ages 18 to 49, in South Carolina did not receive one or more types of reproductive care in 2024 and 2025, according to responses to its Reproductive Health Experience and Access Study.

State says Murdaugh’s defense lied about polygraph test. State prosecutors claim that the defense of Alex Murdaugh lied to a judge about the felon passing a lie detector test.

State approves funding to preserve Captain Sams Spit. The Kiawah Island land, in litigation for about 20 years, is one step closer to permanent protection, officials say.

Settlement clears legislature, governor’s desk

Charleston doctors track bacteria that could turn deadly. A look at how fast a bacterium in Charleston waters could turn deadly.

LOCAL: Charleston housing authority stymies public access. The newspaper is reporting that for the second month in a row, missteps by the city of Charleston’s housing authority over a special board meeting has provided public access problems.

POLICE: 4 arrested in deadly North Charleston shooting. Authorities arrested four people in connection to a deadly shooting in North Charleston last month.

2 arrested after 2 kids found in dilapidated N. Charleston home

Berkeley Co. parents complain about bus delays. Not all students are getting to class on time thanks to driver shortages for school buses.

Charleston Co. schools have hundreds of student absences

CALENDAR: How to find cool things to do around town

Our online events calendar has scores of events around the Lowcountry every day, making it the most detailed calendar of what’s happening in the area. Just click on “Events” above at right under the black toolbar. You’ll be amazed at what you find.