Five Republican candidates seeking to fill the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina revealed fissures within the party during a recent debate, clashing on issues including the use of the filibuster, the ongoing conflict in Iran, and the expansion of data centers.
The candidates participating in the debate were Sen. Darlene Graham Nordone, R-S.C., Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., businessman Mark Lynch, and former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.
Nordone, who is currently filling her late brother's seat and has received President Donald Trump's endorsement, stated she would vote to end the Senate filibuster. "And I am all for — this is where I differ from my brother — getting rid of the filibuster to get this done because eventually the Democrats are going to get rid of it anyway," Nordone said. Supporters of the filibuster argue it prevents a simple majority from enacting legislation without bipartisan input.
Mark Sanford raised concerns about the authority for military action in Iran, suggesting that Congress, not the president, should direct the war's course. "Only Congress has the authority to declare war. This decision needs to be made by Congress… body bags don't go back to Washington. They come back to home states and congressional districts," Sanford stated. The U.S. initiated airstrikes in Iran approximately six months prior, in coordination with Israel, following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The conflict has persisted longer than initially anticipated by the administration.
While some candidates, like Rep. Russell Fry, expressed support for President Trump's stance on Iran, citing concerns over its nuclear capabilities, Fry clarified his opposition to deploying U.S. troops. "No boots on the ground. I’m not a believer in that. My brother served in Iraq, and I’ve lost friends in foreign wars. But we can finish the mission by defanging Iran and making sure they have no capabilities left," Fry said.
Businessman Mark Lynch highlighted local concerns regarding the expansion of data centers, arguing for the prioritization of community interests over such developments. "It is a pain point for South Carolinians," Lynch said. "We're tired of waking up and seeing 100 acres of trees bulldozed, and we're told the data center is going to go right next to our neighborhood. It is horrible noise pollution. They're robbing our water. It takes millions of gallons to cool the data centers, and it's causing our electric utilities to increase. We already have a problem with inflation and affordability."
Nordone also addressed criticisms leveled against her late brother by Mark Lynch regarding his record on amnesty and marijuana legalization. "Mr. Lynch mentioned Lindsey Graham multiple times, and I don't know if he's just afraid Lindsey beat him and now his little sister is going to beat him. But I just don't like hearing that," Nordone remarked. Lynch had previously run against the late Sen. Lindsey Graham in the 2026 primary, losing by a significant margin.
The winner of the Aug. 11 Republican primary will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election on Nov. 3. The race is widely projected to favor the Republican candidate.