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‘Fiercely independent’ South Carolina votes on Lindsey Graham’s Senate successor
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- South Carolina is holding a special Republican primary election on Tuesday to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham, with 10 candidates competing, including interim Senator Darline Graham, his sister.
- If no candidate wins a majority, a runoff is scheduled for 25 August, which polls suggest is likely due to the crowded field and compressed campaign timeline.
- Darline Graham, appointed by Governor Henry McMaster and endorsed by Donald Trump, benefits from her brother’s political network but faces skepticism about Trump's influence in South Carolina’s fiercely independent political culture.
- Key competitors include Representatives Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, both with established campaign infrastructures and conservative platforms, as well as former Governor Mark Sanford, known for his controversial past and previous presidential primary challenge to Trump.
- The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the November general election to fill the Senate seat.
