Republican voters in South Carolina are heading to the polls Tuesday for a primary election to determine who will secure the party's nomination for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Darline Graham, the senator's sister, was appointed to the seat shortly after his death in July and subsequently launched a bid for the full term with an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Despite the endorsement, Graham has encountered questions from some within the party who perceive her as a caretaker candidate. "There's a little bit of uneasiness about that whole process," John McGrath, the chair of South Carolina's Berkeley County Republican Party, told ABC News in early August. "Because at the end of the day, ultimately the people who are going to decide who the nominee is are the people of South Carolina, not D.C., not the consultants that run these big money [political action committees], organizations."
Darline Graham, who has emphasized her status as a political outsider and her connection to the struggles of average American families, stated during a debate that she plans to prioritize domestic issues and affordability. She also expressed support for eliminating the Senate's legislative filibuster, a position that diverges from her brother's stance on maintaining it. Graham has held positions on various state boards, including the South Carolina Commission for the Blind and the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board.
She has affirmed her strong support for former President Trump's agenda, stating, "I completely support the president's agenda. I'm 100% behind him." Political science professor Chase Meyer of the University of South Carolina noted that Trump's endorsement could be particularly beneficial for Graham, given her relative unfamiliarity to many voters.
Graham is competing against a field that includes U.S. Representatives Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, both of whom have highlighted their support for Trump despite running against his endorsed candidate. Also on the ballot are former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, seeking a political return, and businessman Mark Lynch, who secured approximately 30% of the vote in a previous race against Lindsey Graham.
If no candidate secures over 50% of the vote in Tuesday's primary, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff election scheduled for August 25.
Should Darline Graham or another Republican win the primary or runoff, they will face Democratic candidate Annie Andrews in the November general election. Andrews, a pediatrician, previously ran for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District and won the Democratic primary for the Senate in June. She stated her campaign's focus remains on lowering costs, protecting healthcare, and advocating for South Carolina families.