South Carolina Senate race draws crowded Republican field after Graham death

South Carolina’s special election for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s seat has drawn multiple Republican contenders, with Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman both seeking the nomination for a full six-year term. The race could affect Washington’s balance of power beyond the Senate contest, because a nomination win by either House member would put another Republican-held House seat in play while the party holds a narrow majority.

Fry announced Monday in a post on X that he would run in the Aug. 11 special Republican primary. Official filing for the primary is set to open at noon ET on Tuesday, according to South Carolina election information cited for the race.

The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the November general election. The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rates the contest “Solid R,” indicating the seat is expected to remain in Republican hands under its current assessment.

A primary shaped by Graham’s succession

The contest follows the death of Lindsey Graham, who died July 11 at age 71. The Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia’s preliminary finding said he died of an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, was appointed last week to hold the seat on an interim basis through the end of the year and was sworn in last Tuesday, according to Roll Call. She has not announced whether she will seek the Republican nomination for the full term.

President Donald Trump endorsed Darline Graham on Friday in a post on Truth Social and urged her to run. Trump wrote that she would have his “Complete and Total Endorsement” if she entered the special election and said she would honor her brother’s legacy.

In an open letter released over the weekend, Darline Graham thanked constituents for their support and invoked her brother’s record. “Lindsey dedicated his life to serving South Carolina and defending our nation,” she wrote, adding that he still had “so many big ideas” he wanted to complete.

House Republicans enter the Senate race

Fry has represented South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District, in the northeastern part of the state, since 2023. He is a close Trump ally and presented his campaign as aligned with the president’s political movement.

“South Carolina, I’m in! I’m running for the U.S. Senate,” Fry wrote on X. He said families were under pressure from gasoline and grocery costs and described himself as a “conservative MAGA candidate” for the special primary.

Norman, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, announced his campaign over the weekend. He has represented South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, in the north-central part of the state, since 2017. Earlier this year, he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of South Carolina.

Norman wrote on X that he was running to represent South Carolina in the Senate and to “stand with President Trump.” He also cited the SAVE America Act, a Trump-backed election measure that would require strict photo identification and proof of citizenship for voter registration.

Other Republicans have also entered the field. Mark Lynch, a South Carolina businessman who finished second to Lindsey Graham in the state’s June Republican primary, announced on July 13 that he would run. Duke Buckner, who made unsuccessful 2022 and 2024 bids against Democratic Rep. James Clyburn in South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, has also announced his candidacy.

The compressed schedule gives candidates limited time to organize before the Aug. 11 primary. For Republicans, the contest will decide whether the party turns to the appointed senator, a sitting House member or another contender to defend a seat long held by one of South Carolina’s most prominent national figures.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.