South Carolina holds special Republican primary to replace late Senator Lindsey Graham
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A special primary on Tuesday will select the Republican nominee to succeed the late Lindsey Graham, with former state representative Darline Graham leading the field.
South Carolina voters will cast ballots on Tuesday in a special Republican primary to choose a candidate who will replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham on the November ballot. Graham died on July 11 from cardiovascular disease, prompting the state to hold a new primary under its election law, which requires a special contest when a primary winner vacates the race.
Ten Republicans are competing for the nomination. Darline Graham, appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to complete her brother’s term, is the frontrunner, according to a Quantus Insights poll that gave her 30.4% of the vote. Former U.S. Representative Ralph Norman and Congressman Russell Fry follow with 17.5% and 16.6% respectively, while former governor Mark Sanford trails at 15.4%. Other candidates include businessman Mark Lynch, lawyer Duke Buckner, biomedical engineer Samuel Shepherd, former Myrtle Beach mayor Mark McBride, retired Air Force officer Glenda Gail Parker and farmer Danny Lee Ford II.
Polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. The winner of the primary will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the November general election.
Governor McMaster appointed Darline Graham to fill the Senate seat until a special election can be held, making her the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate. She has described herself as a continuity candidate who will uphold her brother’s policy positions.
The race is expected to remain favorable to Republicans in the traditionally red state, though analysts note that Graham’s death could improve Democratic prospects. President Donald Trump has endorsed Darline Graham, a factor that may influence Republican voters. Andrews, meanwhile, has highlighted public-health concerns such as the recent measles outbreak and positioned herself as a generational change candidate.
"They’re looking for something different, and as a doctor and a mom and someone who represents a generational shift in leadership, that’s exactly what I’m offering," Andrews told the Charleston City Paper.