Mace and McMaster emerge in race for Graham’s South Carolina Senate seat

South Carolina is moving toward an Aug. 11 special Republican primary after the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham opened both a Senate vacancy and a place on the November ballot. The filing window is set to begin July 21 under state law, while Gov. Henry McMaster also has authority to name an interim senator.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and McMaster are among the early figures being discussed for the seat, according to CNBC. Graham, a Republican, had been seeking reelection and was expected to face Democrat Annie Andrews in November in a race the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rated “Solid R.”

Mace weighs a Senate run

A person familiar with Mace’s thinking told CNBC, on condition of anonymity, that she is “strongly considering” entering the race and would release polling on Monday.

Mace has represented South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District since 2021. She recently ran for governor but lost in the Republican primary in June.

In a Sunday post on X, Mace paid tribute to Graham while noting that the two did not agree on every issue. “South Carolina lost a giant last night,” she wrote, adding that Graham had served the state and the country for more than three decades, including in the Air Force and the Senate.

Mace later posted a line from “The Godfather Part III”: “‘Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in…’”

Trump praises McMaster

President Donald Trump said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that he had a preferred candidate to succeed Graham, but declined to identify that person. “I have somebody I like,” Trump said. “I’m not going to tell you who now because it’s too soon.”

Trump also praised McMaster, a close ally whose term as governor ends this year. “Henry’s been a great governor, you know now he’s termed out, but he’s going to do the right thing,” Trump said. “I think Henry will be fantastic.”

McMaster’s role is central in the near term because South Carolina law gives the governor power to appoint someone to fill the Senate seat temporarily. Separately, the special primary will determine the Republican nominee for the general election ballot in November.

Wilson addresses appointment report

Punchbowl News reported that Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., was interested in an interim appointment and would seek a full term. Wilson, who is running for reelection in South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District, appeared to reject that account in a Sunday post on X.

Wilson wrote that he had spoken with Trump about Graham and told the president he wanted to remain in the House. “I assured him my goal is to remain in the House to keep his two-vote majority for the American people!!!” Wilson posted.

The contest is likely to draw close attention inside the Republican Party because Graham had already been positioned for the November election, and the replacement process will unfold over a short calendar. The Cook Political Report’s “Solid R” rating indicates the seat has been viewed as strongly favorable to Republicans.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.