# Graham SC Senate poll

News · Heat 1.7 / 10 · 6 shows · 27m airtime

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.

Page: https://boilpoints.com/point/graham_sc_senate_poll_877001359

## Segments

- [The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon](https://boilpoints.com/u/thetonightshowstarringjimmyfallon), 2026-09-29, 2:22 to 4:29: **Plays Graham's candidacy confession interview**. Reports a new poll putting appointed Senator Darlene Graham in a virtual tie in South Carolina, then plays a comedic interview in which she admits to having no campaign manager, platform, money or ads, 36 days before the election. New angle: A new poll shows Darlene Graham virtually tied with her Democratic opponent 36 days before the election.
- [The Megyn Kelly Show](https://boilpoints.com/u/themegynkellyshow), 2026-10-09, 3:08 to 6:29: **Breaks down the South Carolina money and polls**. Goes to the South Carolina money and the numbers: the Senate Leadership Fund's $5 million insurance policy, RealClearPolling's 2.4-point margin, and single-point leads in Trafalgar and Insider Advantage. Adds the Trump Truth Social post and the candidates' exchange over transgender policy. New angle: The Senate Leadership Fund plans $5 million for Graham; RealClearPolling has her up 2.4, Trafalgar and Insider Advantage by one.
- [Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar](https://boilpoints.com/u/breakingpointswithkrystalandsaagar), 2026-10-12, 42:20 to 57:36: **Adds a Trafalgar poll on the Texas race**. Covers the South Carolina Senate debate, where Graham defends the Iran war and Andrews attacks it, and adds a new poll: Trafalgar has Tallarico up 47 to 43 in Texas, with no poll since September 14 showing Paxton ahead or tied. New angle: Trafalgar has Tallarico up 47 to 43 in Texas; no poll since September 14 has Paxton ahead or tied.
- [Pod Save America](https://boilpoints.com/u/podsaveamerica), 2026-10-13, 27:12 to 30:36: **Covers the debate and adds a new poll**. Covers the South Carolina Senate debate, where Graham said the U.S. should not stop the Iran war because it is close to ending, and Andrews likened the answer to a surgeon calling appendectomies not his thing. Adds a new poll figure and a historical baseline for the seat. New angle: Nate Silver's model has Andrews down two and a half points; Republicans lost the seat by 14 last cycle.
- [Today, Explained](https://boilpoints.com/u/todayexplained), 2026-10-17, 10:32 to 10:58: **Frames the South Carolina seat by name**. Goldmacher frames the South Carolina race as the former Lindsey Graham seat, now sought by his sister, and uses North Carolina and Kansas as yardsticks for how far the Republican map has moved. Background on the Graham name, not a new development in the race.
- [The Fox News Rundown](https://boilpoints.com/u/thefoxnewsrundown), 2026-10-24, 7:14 to 10:08: **Recaps the South Carolina Senate race**. Recaps the South Carolina race with Chad Pergram: Lindsey Graham's death, Darlene Graham's appointment and primary win over Ralph Norman, Trump's nickname for Andrews, and the Taiwan stumble. Frames it as Democrats forcing Republicans to spend money, staying inside the race's existing coverage.