SOUTH CAROLINA — Ten Republicans are competing in a special primary election to replace the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on South Carolina’s general election ballot. President Donald Trump endorsed Darline Graham in the special primary election.

U.S. Sen. Darline Graham was appointed by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to fill her brother’s vacant Senate seat. The official record states that Darline Graham will serve until January 3, 2027, when the new Congress convenes following the November 2026 general election.

Candidates challenging Darline Graham include U.S. Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, former Gov. Mark Sanford, and business owner Mark Lynch. Ralph Norman placed third in the recent Republican primary for governor.

If no candidate receives a vote majority in the special primary, the top two vote-getters will advance to a special primary runoff on Aug. 25. The winner of the Republican special primary will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election.

Darline Graham has never held elected office prior to her appointment to the Senate. She previously worked in state government with people with disabilities and as an agency head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.

She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate. She took point on the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which was named after her late brother Lindsey Graham.

She voted to confirm Todd Blanche as U.S. Attorney General. The National Republican Senatorial Committee is running television advertising to support her candidacy. PureSource News reported on 2026-08-02 that Darline Graham Wins Straw Poll in South Carolina Senate Race.

Lindsey Graham died on July 11 from an aortic tear. PureSource News reported on 2026-07-17: South Carolina Senator Graham Dies At His Home On Capitol Hill.

About 465,000 voters cast ballots in the June 9 Republican U.S. Senate primary in which Lindsey Graham was renominated. As of Friday, there were about 3.4 million registered voters in South Carolina.

As of Friday, about 42,000 ballots had already been cast in the Tuesday special primary election. Polls for the South Carolina special primary close at 7 p.m. ET.

Voters who participated in the Democratic primary on June 9 may not participate in the special Republican primary. In South Carolina, recounts are automatic if the margin between the winning and losing candidates is 1% of the total vote or less.

She said, "Yes, I have some notes. You know why? Because I haven’t slept in two days, so I’m going to keep my thoughts straight." She spoke at a candidate forum regarding her preparation for the race.

She said, "I feel like my job is to be in D.C. working for everyone right now. I hate that I can’t be here. I want to be here." She made the remark during a press gaggle about her campaign schedule. She said, "Trust me, I have learned a lot already, so I think I have experience." She addressed questions about her lack of prior elected office during the same press interaction.

President Donald Trump encouraged Darline Graham to enter the race, saying she would have his 'complete and total endorsement' should she enter her name at the start of filing on July 21. This encouragement preceded his formal endorsement in the special primary election.

The special primary determines who will appear on the general election ballot to complete the term of the late senator. The outcome affects the composition of the Senate until the new Congress convenes in January 2027.

Her appointment marks a historic moment as the first woman to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate. Her candidacy is bolstered by institutional support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

Why It Matters

This special primary determines which Republican will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews to complete the late senator's term through January 2027, directly affecting Senate composition. The outcome tests whether an appointed incumbent without prior elected office can overcome challenges from established figures like U.S. Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman despite holding presidential endorsement. With automatic recounts triggered by margins of 1% or less, the result could hinge on a narrow slice of the state's 3.4 million registered voters.

Iran has issued a new list of demands it says Washington must meet to avoid further escalation. More than 30,400 personnel are battling 94 large wildfires across the western United States. A woman and her 5-month-old baby died after a boat capsized off the coast of Florida.