By Jim Ellis — Tuesday, July 21, 2026
US Senate
Newly appointed South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham (R)
Also yesterday, Rep. Russell Fry (R Murrell’s Inlet/Myrtle Beach) said he would enter the Senate race without relinquishing his nomination for re election in the 7th Congressional District. Previously, Fry had been viewed as President Trump’s preferred candidate, but before Sen. Graham’s announcement, the President issued a “complete and total” endorsement of her candidacy.
Over the weekend, Rep. Ralph Norman (R Rock Hill), who lost the gubernatorial primary in June, declared his candidacy for the Senate special election. Businessman Mark Lynch, who lost the June primary to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, is also an announced contender. How Reps. Fry and Norman proceed now that Sen. Graham is in the race – with both the Trump endorsement and her late brother’s legacy – remains to be seen. The appointed incumbent is widely regarded as the early favorite in this developing campaign.
The candidate filing deadline is July 28, which explains the timing of these announcements. With Sen. Darline Graham now officially running, it is unclear whether all previously announced candidates will complete their filings. The special primary is rapidly approaching. If no candidate receives majority support on the 11th, the top two finishers will advance to an Aug. 25 runoff.
Under South Carolina election law, all registered voters are eligible to participate in the Senate Republican special primary unless the individual previously voted in a 2026 partisan Democratic election, i.e., the Democratic primary or runoff. South Carolina also recognizes seven minor parties, but none held 2026 nominating primaries; therefore, members of those parties are eligible to vote in the special election.
Rep. Fry’s intention to remain the 7th District nominee is also a point of uncertainty. If he does not win the Senate primary, he would continue as the GOP nominee for his House seat. If he wins the Senate primary, however, he must resign as the congressional nominee, prompting the 7th District Republican Party to select a replacement for the November ballot.
It is still possible that Democrats could challenge the validity of the special election because its timing does not comply with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), which requires 45 days’ notice for affected voters. Democratic leaders have not indicated whether they will file such a challenge, and waiting until the election becomes official could shorten the decision window to their benefit.
If a challenge were filed and be successful, Lindsey Graham’s name would likely remain on the November ballot. Should he be elected posthumously, a properly noticed special election would then be scheduled after Nov. 3.
In the meantime, Darline Graham will continue to serve as the interim Senator until the beginning of the next Congress in January. In addition to Sen. Graham, two other appointed Senators, Jon Husted (R-OH) and Ashley Moody (R-FL), will also be on the ballot in November. Both, however, will be running to serve the balance of the current term as opposed to Sen. Graham who will be seeking the full six years because the Class II South Carolina seat is in-cycle this year. The Ohio and Florida Class III Senate seats will be in-cycle for the 2028 election.