South Carolina Senate primary exposes GOP infighting as establishment and Trump loyalists vie for power
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Republican voters are set to choose a nominee to replace the late Lindsey Graham, with Darline Graham—Trump-endorsed and lacking grassroots credibility—facing off against a crowded field of career politicians and wealthy elites.
Republican voters in South Carolina will head to the polls Tuesday in a primary that starkly reveals the deep fractures within the GOP as they select a nominee for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham. The contest features Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister, who was appointed to finish his term despite her limited public service experience, and a lineup of other Republican contenders including U.S. Representatives Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, former governor Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark Lynch—each representing different factions of the party’s entrenched establishment and corporate interests.
Graham, whose background includes stints on state commissions and at Clemson University and workforce agencies, claims she will focus on domestic issues and affordability, and supports eliminating the Senate filibuster—a move that could be seen as a rare break from GOP obstructionism. She tries to brand herself as an outsider, distancing herself from the party’s wealthy elite, stating, "I'm not a politician. I'm not a millionaire. I understand the average struggles of the American family," during an early-August debate. Yet her campaign is propped up by President Donald Trump, whose endorsement continues to warp the party’s priorities and drown out genuine grassroots voices. Political science professor Chase Meyer noted to ABC News that without Trump’s backing, Graham’s lack of name recognition would likely doom her campaign, highlighting the party’s dependence on celebrity over substance.
Other candidates, including Norman and Fry, have tried to burnish their conservative credentials, doubling down on support for the president even as they run against his chosen candidate. Sanford, notorious for his scandal-ridden tenure as governor, seeks a return to power, while Lynch, a businessman who previously challenged Lindsey Graham, managed to capture about 30% of the vote in June—demonstrating the persistent influence of big money in GOP politics.
If no candidate secures a majority, the top two will proceed to a runoff on Aug. 25, prolonging the internal power struggle. The eventual Republican nominee will face Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and advocate for working families who previously ran for the state’s 1st Congressional District and won the Democratic Senate primary in June. Andrews has pledged to focus on lowering costs, protecting health care, and supporting South Carolina families—offering a stark contrast to the GOP’s infighting and corporate-driven agenda.