South Carolina voters participated in a primary election Tuesday to select a Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Lindsey Graham. The election follows the death of Senator Graham last month due to a heart ailment, which left the party's nomination for the upcoming November general election vacant.
Prior to the primary, Governor Henry McMaster appointed the late senator's sister, Darline Graham, to serve the remainder of the current term, which ends in January. Darline Graham, who has not previously held public office, received an endorsement for the full six-year term from President Donald Trump. Ten candidates entered the race for the Republican nomination.
The field of candidates included U.S. Representatives Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, former Governor Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark Lynch. Lynch had previously finished second to Lindsey Graham in the June 9 primary, receiving nearly 29% of the vote. If no candidate secures a majority of the vote in Tuesday's primary, the top two candidates will proceed to a runoff election.
For South Carolina voters, the selection determines who will represent their interests in the U.S. Senate through 2032. While Darline Graham currently holds the seat as an appointee, the primary serves as the first time voters will weigh in on the succession following Lindsey Graham's 20-year tenure. Candidates like Mark Lynch have cited voter frustration with the appointment process, while U.S. Representative Nancy Mace noted that presidential endorsements have recently shown varying levels of influence in the state's runoff elections.
The primary functions as a test of political influence within the state's Republican party following the unexpected vacancy. If a runoff is required, it is scheduled for August 25. The general election in November will finalize who holds the seat starting in January, impacting federal policy-making and legislative votes for the next six years. Any candidate who does not secure a majority Tuesday must immediately prepare for the two-week runoff campaign.