Darline Graham and Mike Mazzei secured Republican victories after several candidates endorsed by the president lost races in other states.

Two candidates backed by Donald Trump won their Republican primaries: Darline Graham in South Carolina and Mike Mazzei in Oklahoma, giving the president a political boost.

  • Why it matters: The victories show that Trump’s endorsement can still carry weight in some primaries, although they do not prove that he has regained control over Republican contests.

Darline Graham Wins 52.4% to 47.6% in South Carolina

Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, defeated Representative Ralph Norman in the Republican runoff for Senate, according to EFE.

With 99% of the vote counted, Graham received 52.4%, compared with Norman’s 47.6%. She currently holds the seat temporarily following her brother’s death.

  • The data: Graham had already finished first in the initial round of the primary, receiving 33% of the vote in a field of about 10 candidates.

Lindsey Graham died on July 11. He had represented South Carolina in the Senate since 2003 and was seeking a fifth term.

His sister will now have to defend the seat in November’s general election.

Trump Campaigned and MAGA Inc. Spent $827,000

Trump intervened directly to support Darline Graham. In addition to publicly endorsing her, he campaigned alongside her in South Carolina on the Friday before the vote.

During the event, he urged supporters to vote as though his own name were on the ballot, according to EFE.

  • By the numbers: A filing with the Federal Election Commission showed that MAGA Inc. spent $827,000 on text messages and phone calls supporting Graham.

The victory comes after several unfavorable results for candidates backed by Trump, particularly in gubernatorial races.

His preferred candidates lost gubernatorial primaries in Wyoming, Iowa, Georgia, Minnesota and South Carolina.

Other Trump-backed candidates lost legislative races in Michigan and Florida.

Mike Mazzei Adds Another Victory for Trump in Oklahoma

The second favorable sign came in Oklahoma, where former state senator Mike Mazzei narrowly won the Republican primary for governor.

Trump endorsed Mazzei in May. In the first round on June 16, Gentner Drummond had defeated Mazzei by just 0.3 percentage points, forcing a runoff.

  • The limitation: The presidential endorsement was not the only factor. Mazzei loaned $11.6 million to his campaign and also received strong outside financial support.

Club for Growth spent $8 million on advertising to support Mazzei and attack Drummond. Mazzei also received endorsements from Governor Kevin Stitt and Markwayne Mullin.

These two victories mean Trump-backed candidates win primaries after a string of defeats, but each race was also shaped by local factors, campaign spending and other political endorsements.

Darline Graham Will Face Annie Andrews on November 3

Graham’s next test will be the November 3 general election against Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews.

  • What comes next: Voters will decide who will keep the Senate seat previously held by Lindsey Graham.

That result will help show whether Graham can carry the momentum from the Republican primary into the November election.

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SOURCE: EFE / POLITICO