Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to serve the remainder of her brother’s term, which runs through early January. She is now seeking the Republican nomination to continue in the Senate for a full six-year term.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Darline Graham, calling her candidacy a “fabulous tribute” to her late brother despite her lack of previous experience in elected office.
Her campaign has faced criticism from Republican rivals, who argue that she is relying heavily on the Graham family name and Trump’s endorsement rather than an established political record.
Ten Republicans are competing in Tuesday’s primary, with the winner set to face Democratic candidate Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who had more than $3 million in her campaign account at the beginning of July.
If no Republican secures more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff scheduled for August 25.
Among Darline Graham’s leading challengers are US Representatives Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, former Governor Mark Sanford and Greenville businessman Mark Lynch, who is financing his own campaign.
Lynch also competed in the Republican primary held on June 9, finishing second with nearly 29% of the vote. He is the only candidate from that contest to return for Tuesday’s special Republican primary.
Lynch received more than 130,000 votes in June and has argued that the result showed Republican voters were willing to consider an alternative to the Graham political establishment.
He has strongly opposed Darline Graham’s candidacy, arguing that Republicans may have accepted her temporary appointment but should not automatically give her the nomination for a full Senate term.
Darline Graham is widely expected to reach the runoff, but her rivals are challenging whether Trump’s endorsement will be enough to secure the nomination.
If she advances, Republicans opposed to her candidacy are expected to rally behind the strongest remaining challenger in an effort to block her path to the nomination.
Trump remains a powerful political force in South Carolina. He carried the state by nearly 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, giving his endorsement significant weight among Republican voters.
However, some Republicans argue that Trump’s support is not enough on its own to guarantee victory. They point to the state’s recent governor’s race, where Trump backed Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, who failed to advance against Attorney General Alan Wilson.
US Representative Nancy Mace, who also unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor, has predicted a similar outcome for Darline Graham.
Mace said Trump’s endorsement could help a candidate reach a runoff but argued that it may not be sufficient to win the final contest.
The Republican nominee is expected to enter November’s general election with an advantage, as Republicans are strongly favoured to retain the South Carolina Senate seat.
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