South Carolina Republicans scramble to elect a successor following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham has ignited a heated political contest for his U.S. Senate seat. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham's sister, Darline Graham, to serve as a temporary replacement until the full term ends in 2027. Separately, the state must hold a special primary election to elect a permanent replacement in time for the November general election. A crowded field of Republican candidates is positioning themselves for the race, which is slated for August 11. Prominent figures eyed for the nomination include Rep. Russell Fry, Rep. Nancy Mace, and Rep. Ralph Norman. Donald Trump has publicly praised Fry, calling him "outstanding" and suggesting he could be a leading successor. The race for the seat has drawn multiple aspirants, including Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who previously received endorsements from Donald Trump during the state's primary. Meanwhile, former candidate Mark Lynch has announced intentions to revive his own campaign. The process of finding a nominee will proceed with a special primary election, and a potential runoff is planned if no candidate wins an outright majority.