South Carolina Republican voters are set to head to the polls on Tuesday to pick their replacement for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died unexpectedly last month in the middle of his reelection campaign.
More than 10 candidates are vying for the nomination, including Sen. Darline Graham, the late senator’s younger sister who was tapped as his replacement just days after his death. While Darline Graham initially intended to fill the position only for the remainder of his term, she announced shortly after being sworn in that she would run for a full six-year term.
And while Darline Graham has received the support of President Donald Trump, the path to a full Senate term is a bumpy one. The newly minted senator, who does not have previous political experience, faces a slate of candidates who may benefit from name recognition and fundraising prowess.
Still, she may have an advantage sharing the last name of her brother, who served in the Senate for more than two decades and cemented national recognition. One of Lindsey Graham’s final acts as a senator was securing a deal for a Russia sanctions package, a bipartisan bill that passed the Senate last week.
Darline Graham took on that project after replacing her brother, and she was given the honor of presiding over the final vote count — slamming down the gavel to lock in the 86-11 vote.
But she still has a ways to go to achieve the same status as her brother. While he was known as a bipartisan negotiator and one who loved to speak with reporters in the Capitol, Darline Graham has kept a lower profile.
The political novice mostly avoids questions in the hallways, a stark contrast from her predecessor who loved to give his point of view on the news of the day — and it’s a habit that has made it harder to pinpoint her political positions ahead of a high-profile election.
Polling for the special primary show different results, with some surveys putting Graham ahead of her opponents while others have her trailing behind members of the South Carolina congressional delegation.
Graham will face Rep. Ralph Norman, who unsuccessfully ran for governor earlier this year and whose House term is set to expire in January. Also on the ballot is Rep. Russell Fry, who’s served in Congress since 2023.
Mark Sanford, a former congressman and former governor, is running for the seat, and is likely to benefit from statewide recognition having served in those two positions. Mark Lynch, who ran against Lindsey Graham in the June primary and was the runner-up with 29% of the vote, will also give the Senate primary another go.
With the crowded primary field, it’s possible there won’t be a breakout candidate to garner more than 50% of the vote. In that case, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff election on Aug. 25.
The winner will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, who previously challenged Rep. Nancy Mace in the 2022 general election. South Carolina hasn’t had a Democrat representing the state in the Senate since 2005.