South Carolina Races Gets Totally Scrambled
The sudden death of longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham has transformed South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, setting off a fast-moving Republican primary while Democratic candidate Annie Andrews insists her campaign remains focused on the issues she believes matter most to voters.
Graham’s passing leaves Republicans scrambling to choose a new nominee ahead of November’s general election, creating one of the most closely watched Senate contests in the country.
Annie Andrews Says Her Mission Hasn’t Changed
In an interview with Newsweek published Saturday, Andrews said Graham’s death changed the political landscape but not the purpose behind her campaign.
“The events of this weekend changed who I’m running against, but it didn’t change who I’m running for,” Andrews said.
The Charleston pediatrician, who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Nancy Mace in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in 2022, said she plans to continue emphasizing health care, affordability, and other issues affecting families across the state.
She also argued that some Republican voters she has spoken with are dissatisfied with the direction of today’s GOP and would prefer a return to what she described as a more traditional, center-right Republican Party. Andrews said she believes electing a Democrat could encourage greater bipartisan cooperation in Washington.
Republicans Rush to Fill Lindsey Graham’s Seat
Graham, who represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003, died on July 11 at the age of 71 after suffering an aortic dissection. His death came only weeks after he secured the Republican nomination in the June primary, leaving the GOP without a candidate for the November election.
Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to complete the remainder of his Senate term while state election officials moved quickly to organize a replacement primary.
South Carolina’s accelerated election schedule includes:
- Candidate filing: July 21–28
- Absentee ballot application deadline: July 31
- Early voting: Aug. 5–7
- Special Republican primary: Aug. 11
- Runoff election (if needed): Aug. 25
The compressed timeline gives Republican candidates only a short window to organize campaigns before voters head to the polls.
Republican Primary Remains Wide Open
The race to replace Graham has quickly become one of the state’s biggest political stories.
An Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey conducted July 14-15 among 500 likely Republican primary voters found no clear favorite.
Rep. Ralph Norman topped the survey with 16% support, while businessman Mark Lynch placed second at 13%. Rep. Nancy Mace and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette each earned 10%, followed by Rep. Russell Fry at 9%. The largest share of respondents, 18%, said they were still undecided, underscoring that the Republican primary remains highly competitive with only weeks to go before voters cast their ballots.
Several high-profile Republicans are considering entering the contest, including Norman, Mace, Fry, former Rep. Trey Gowdy, and Evette.
Meanwhile, Rep. William Timmons, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have all announced they will not seek the seat.
Trump Weighs In on the Race
President Donald Trump entered the conversation Friday by encouraging Darline Graham Nordone to run for the full Senate term.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump praised Graham’s sister and said she would be the strongest candidate to continue her brother’s legacy and represent South Carolina in Washington.
Trump’s endorsement could significantly influence the Republican primary as candidates compete for support from the party’s conservative base.
South Carolina Remains Strong Republican Territory
Despite the sudden shakeup, South Carolina remains one of the nation’s most reliably Republican states.
The state has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since Ernest “Fritz” Hollings won re-election in 1998. South Carolina also has not backed a Democratic presidential candidate since 1976.
President Donald Trump carried the state comfortably in the 2024 presidential election, winning by an 18-point margin.
Those voting trends mean the eventual Republican nominee is widely expected to enter the general election as the favorite, although Democrats hope the unusual circumstances surrounding the race will create new opportunities.
What Happens Next?
With candidate filing opening in the coming days, South Carolina Republicans must quickly unite behind a nominee following the loss of one of the state’s longest-serving senators.
Democrats, meanwhile, are betting that voters will give Andrews a fresh look as she continues campaigning across the state.
As the race moves forward, all eyes will remain on the crowded Republican primary, where the outcome could shape both South Carolina politics and the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
