Tuesday's Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina pits incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham against Rep. Ralph Norman, offering a fresh gauge of President Trump's political clout within the party. The contest follows a primary where Graham led Norman by roughly eight points but fell short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Trump has thrown his weight behind Graham, with the super PAC MAGA Inc. pouring significant resources into the race. On Monday night, the president highlighted an Oval Office meeting with the senator, signaling continued White House support. Norman, a staunch conservative, has tried to cast Graham as insufficiently aligned with Trump's agenda, though the president's endorsement may prove decisive.
Graham stumbled last week over a question about Taiwan, drawing criticism from national security hawks and giving Norman an opening. Polls close at 7 p.m. EDT in South Carolina, where the race could offer clues about the durability of Trump's endorsement ahead of the midterms.
Oklahoma Primaries and Tariff Refunds
Voters in Oklahoma also head to the polls Tuesday for primary elections, though the state's contests are less likely to draw national attention than the South Carolina showdown.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is due to update a federal court on its progress refunding importers who paid tariffs that the Supreme Court invalidated. Customs and Border Protection collected roughly $166 billion from more than 330,000 importers, and the government must return those funds, according to data. The refund process has been contentious, with businesses pressing for timely repayment.
Trump Taunts Canada Over Lake Ontario
As trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada remain stalled, Trump escalated his war of words with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. In a Tuesday morning post, the president suggested renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America," claiming "we don't expect to be doing much business with Ontario any longer." The taunt follows Ontario Premier Doug Ford's threat to cut power exports, part of an escalating trade feud that has put border-state Republicans on the defensive.
The president's remarks come amid a broader trade dispute that has seen both sides impose tariffs. Trump's Canada tariffs have sparked backlash from some Senate Republicans, who worry about the economic impact on their states. The White House has shown no sign of backing down, with Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also doubling down on Iran sanctions.
Court Arguments and Mask Law
Separately, federal appeals judges are set to hear arguments over the Justice Department's bid to block a California law that bars immigration officers from wearing masks. A lower court ruled in February that the state cannot enforce a blanket mask ban but can require officers to show identification during enforcement actions.
Trump has no public events scheduled for Tuesday, leaving the focus on the primary results and the ongoing trade tensions. The South Carolina runoff will be closely watched as a bellwether for Trump's influence, especially after his endorsement faced mixed results in other races this cycle.
For now, the political world awaits the returns from South Carolina, where Graham's fate could signal whether Trump's backing remains a golden ticket in GOP primaries.
