Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman have advanced to a Republican special primary runoff election in South Carolina. According to race calls by The Associated Press on Tuesday night, neither candidate secured the majority of votes required to win the nomination outright in the race to fill the seat vacated by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The special election follows the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham in July. Following the vacancy, Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister, to serve in the seat until the special election process concludes. Sen. Graham has served in the role since being sworn in on July 14, 2026, participating in votes for federal appointments and sanctions legislation.
With 99% of results reported, Darline Graham received 32.7% of the vote (109,629 votes), while Rep. Ralph Norman received 24.6% (82,541 votes). Other candidates in the crowded field included Rep. Russell Fry, who received 19.6%, and former Governor Mark Sanford, who received 14.9%. Norman, who has served in the U.S. House since 2017, campaigned on fiscal conservatism and support for the "America First" agenda, while Graham emphasized "family budget" concerns and her recent legislative experience.
Voters in the state will see a continuation of campaign activities for another two weeks before returning to the polls. The choice between Graham and Norman represents a selection between an incumbent appointed by the governor and endorsed by former President Donald Trump, and a sitting U.S. Representative supported by several conservative Senate colleagues. The winner will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the midterm general election.
The results of this primary also have implications for the composition of the U.S. House of Representatives. If Rep. Ralph Norman or Rep. Russell Fry were to win the Senate seat, it would create further vacancies in the House, where Republicans currently hold what has been described as a slim majority. This creates a shift in the political landscape for both chambers of Congress during a midterm year.
The runoff election is scheduled to take place on August 25. The winner of that contest will move on to the November general election to serve the remainder of the term.