What to expect in South Carolina’s special U.S. Senate primary runoff

Key Points:

• South Carolina Republicans will hold a runoff election Tuesday to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham on the fall general election ballot, with finalists being Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham, and Rep. Ralph Norman.
• Darline Graham led the Aug. 11 special primary with about 33% of the vote but did not secure a majority, while Norman received about 25%; Rep. Russell Fry, who placed third, has endorsed Darline Graham.
• Key endorsements for Darline Graham include Republican Sen. Tim Scott and former President Donald Trump, who campaigned with her recently in Myrtle Beach.
• The winner of the runoff will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election; Lindsey Graham was last reelected in 2020 with 54% of the vote, and Trump carried South Carolina in 2024 with 58%.
• Polls close at 7 p.m. ET, with early and absentee ballots comprising about 19% of votes in the previous primary; the AP will declare a winner only when the outcome is clear, and recounts are automatic if the margin is 1% or less.