South Carolina’s special Senate primary has opened with a crowded field of candidates following the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11 at age 71 from a tear in his aorta. The vacancy emerged weeks after Graham won the Republican primary for a fifth term with 56.8 percent of the vote. Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, to serve in the Senate until January. Republicans are sprinting toward an August 11 special primary, with a runoff scheduled for August 25 if no candidate secures a majority.
South Carolina Senate Race Draws Crowded Republican Field
Darline Graham was sworn in within hours of her brother’s death and quickly declared her candidacy for a full six-year term. She secured an endorsement from President Donald Trump before she had publicly announced her run. Prior to her appointment, she worked in vocational training for disabled people. During a debate appearance, she stated, Trust me, I’m not an expert on Congress. I don’t claim to be one. I’m an expert on the problems facing families in South Carolina.
Following a candidate event in suburban Lexington, South Carolina, a straw poll showed Darline Graham narrowly leading with 25 percent, followed closely by Representative Russell Fry at 23 percent and Representative Ralph Norman at 20 percent.
A Packed Field and Blurs Over Presidential Endorsements
Despite the early presidential backing, the race features at least ten Republican hopefuls, diluting the usual kingmaking power of the endorsement. The field includes several prominent political figures:
* Darline Graham: Interim appointee and former vocational training worker for disabled people, backed by Donald Trump. * Ralph Norman: Congressman endorsed by Nancy Mace and statewide law enforcement figures. * Russell Fry: Incumbent congressman whom Trump had previously suggested he could back. * Mark Sanford: Former governor and former congressman returning to the political arena. * Mark Lynch: Greenville businessman and self-funder who challenged Lindsey Graham in the June primary. * Additional Contenders: Duke Buckner, Mark McBride, Darius Mitchell, Clark Neilson, Sam Shepherd, and former lieutenant governor Pamela Evette.
Some voters and candidates have expressed uncertainty amid the crowded contest. Mark McBride, a retired restaurateur and former mayor of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, described the election as a turning point regarding whether voters still support the direction of Donald Trump. Meanwhile, questions have been raised within South Carolina GOP circles regarding whether goodwill toward the late senator’s memory will be sufficient to secure the nomination, particularly given past conservative skepticism toward Lindsey Graham’s record on immigration and climate change.
General Election Context and Democratic Opposition
While Republicans navigate the primary sprint, the Democratic nominee is already established. Dr. Annie Andrews, a Charleston pediatrician, won the Democratic primary in June and will face whichever Republican candidate emerges from the August primary and potential runoff.
No Democrat has won a statewide office in South Carolina in two decades. Andrews previously ran as the Democratic candidate in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in 2022, a campaign during which she faced attacks from Representative Nancy Mace regarding gender-affirming care—allegations that led Andrews to take an unpaid leave from her position at the Medical University of South Carolina’s children’s hospital to protect her colleagues and family.