A poll released in late September 2026 showed Darlene Graham, appointed to the South Carolina Senate seat after her brother's death, virtually tied with her Democratic opponent 36 days before the election. By October 9 the Senate Leadership Fund had committed $5 million to her race, and newer surveys from RealClearPolling, Trafalgar and Insider Advantage put her ahead by roughly one to 2.4 points. The discussion has shifted from whether an unprepared campaign can stay close to whether the outside money and the tightening polls are enough to hold a seat no Democrat has won since 1998.