The death of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham on Saturday has initiated a process governed by state law to fill his vacant U.S. Senate seat and select a replacement for the upcoming November general election ballot. Graham, 71, had recently won the Republican primary for his current term.
According to South Carolina law, Governor Henry McMaster will first appoint an interim senator to serve the remainder of Graham's current term, which concludes in January. Following this appointment, the governor must announce the date for a special primary election within five days. This special primary will determine who will be the Republican nominee on the November general election ballot.
While the timeline for the governor's appointment is not statutorily fixed, the process is now underway. The South Carolina Election Commission oversees the state's electoral procedures. ABC News has reached out to the commission for details on the expected timeline for the special election.
Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican who previously ran for South Carolina governor, is reportedly considering a run for the special election, according to a source close to Mace. Mace is an ally of President Donald Trump and had vacated her House seat for her gubernatorial bid this year.
The eventual winner of the special primary will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election in November.