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South Carolina Holds Republican Primary Runoff for Vacant U.S. Senate Seat
Just the facts
Following the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in July 2026, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham's sister, Darline Graham, to fill the Senate vacancy. State law required a special election process to select a nominee for the November 2026 midterm election, leading to an initial 10-candidate Republican primary and a subsequent 45-day runoff campaign. President Donald Trump endorsed Darline Graham, a former head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind who pledged to align with his administration's policy platform. Representative Ralph Norman, who has represented South Carolina's 5th congressional district, campaigned as a conservative candidate, emphasizing his legislative experience in contrast to Graham. The winner of the Republican primary runoff will face Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the November 2026 general election.
Why this is news
South Carolina voters went to the polls on August 25, 2026, in a Republican primary runoff election between appointed U.S. Senator Darline Graham and U.S. Representative Ralph Norman. The runoff election determines the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat following the death of long-serving Senator Lindsey Graham in July 2026.
Developments timeline
- Darline Graham won the Republican primary runoff in South Carolina, securing the party nomination for the November 2026 special election.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.