South Carolina is holding a special Republican primary election on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, to select a successor to the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11. Ten candidates have rapidly campaigned across the state, visiting diners, church halls, and recreation centers, condensing what is typically a year-long effort into about two weeks.
Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister and the interim senator appointed by Governor Henry McMaster following his death, is among the candidates on the ballot. If no candidate secures an overall majority, the top two will advance to a runoff scheduled for August 25.
The race reflects South Carolina’s deeply local political culture. Eaddy Roe Willard, a longtime Republican activist in Richmond County, noted, “South Carolina politics is very local. We don’t decide whether or not we’re gonna vote for you until we’ve had a chance to shake your hand at least three times.”
Former state legislator and attorney Fry, who gained prominence by defeating former US Representative Tom Rice in the 2022 GOP primary, is also a contender. Rice was one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump after the January 6 insurrection.
Trump’s endorsement carries weight but is not decisive in the state. Frank Tiller, chair of the Spartanburg County Republican Party, said, “It’s very important, but a lot of people are saying Donald Trump does not know South Carolina politics. South Carolina politics is different from a lot of places.”
Other notable figures include Sanford, who briefly challenged Trump in the 2020 Republican presidential primaries and previously made headlines as governor for disappearing from the state for a week under controversial circumstances.
The special primary marks a pivotal moment for South Carolina Republicans as they seek to fill Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat amid a fiercely independent political environment.
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