Full Breakdown
South Carolina GOP Senate Primary: Race to Replace Late Sen. Lindsey Graham
8/9/2026, 12:20:14 PM
The Special Primary Election
South Carolina voters will choose the Republican nominee to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death. The special primary is scheduled for Aug. 11, with the winner facing Democrat Annie Andrews in the November general election. If no candidate reaches a majority, a runoff will be held later in August.
Background & Context
Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Sen. Darline Graham Nordone—Lindsey Graham’s sister—to serve the remainder of the term until Jan. 3. President Donald Trump endorsed her, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee is running television ads on her behalf.
Candidate Field
The Republican field includes:
- Darline Graham Nordone – interim senator, former head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
- Rep. Russell Fry – 7th District congressman.
- Rep. Ralph Norman – 5th District congressman.
- Mark Sanford – former governor and U.S. congressman.
- Mark Lynch – Greenville businessman.
- Mark McBride – former Myrtle Beach mayor.
- Sam Shepherd – biomedical engineer and entrepreneur.
- Duke Buckner, Glenda Gail Parker, Danny Ford II, and others.
Poll Numbers & Data
Recent surveys show a tight race. An Emerson College poll of 500 likely voters placed Norman at 22 %, Graham at 19 %, Fry at 12 % and Sanford at 11 %. The Trafalgar Group poll (989 respondents) gave Graham a lead of 27 %, with Norman and Fry tied at 17.4 % each and Sanford at 15.1 %. A co/efficient poll (857 respondents) showed Graham at 30 %, Fry 16 %, Norman 15 % and Sanford 9 %.
Graham’s prior state-government role oversaw the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, a $90 million agency that grew from $12.6 million in 2018 to more than $57.6 million in 2025.
Official Statements & Responses
President Trump publicly endorsed Graham, praising her work ethic and service orientation.
Ralph Norman pledged to “blow up the filibuster” and force votes on key legislation.
Criticism & Opposition
Abby Zilch, a Graham-campaign spokesperson, defended Graham against a Fry ad that claimed she “ballooned” the Commission for the Blind and raised her own salary; the ad’s claim conflicts with the state’s 11-member committee process that approved a raise from $138,000 to $168,080 in late June.
Russell Fry’s campaign has attacked Graham’s stance on data-center development, accusing her of supporting “unfettered” projects without local input.
On-the-Ground Voter Sentiment
Kathy Bustos (Mount Pleasant) praised Graham’s character but questioned her readiness for election. Mary Ann Taylor (Charleston) noted the six-minute “kitchen-table” format helped voters “get more information.” Jim McNab (Charleston) warned the race would be “tight” and likely require a runoff.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- DEI Claim: Graham said she opposes “DEI,” yet a Fry ad framed her agency leadership as a “culture of diversity and inclusion.”
- Salary Raise: The state’s report attributes the raise to a legislative committee, while Graham’s supporters argue she did not self-appoint the increase.
- Data-Center Position: Graham asserted the need for data centers to stay competitive with China, whereas Fry emphasized local control.
What’s Next
Voters will cast ballots on Aug. 11. Should no candidate secure a majority, a runoff election will be scheduled for later in August, determining which Republican will appear on the November ballot against Democrat Annie Andrews.
