Republican candidates who would like to run for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by the late Lindsey Graham can begin to file to join the race starting Tuesday. Any potential candidates will have until July 28 to determine if they would like to officially join the race.
State law gives candidates a one-week period to file for a special election starting on the first Tuesday after the death of a nominee who had won their primary election. Graham had prevailed in the June 9 GOP primary race for the Senate seat with about 57% of the vote.
Now, candidates can begin to officially join the race and make their case to voters. The special election to find the GOP's Senate nominee is Aug. 11.
Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham last week to finish out her brother's term. That term ends Jan. 3, 2027. President Donald Trump said on social media last week that he would endorse Graham if she were to join the race. She announced in a Monday interview with Fox that she would run.
As of 10 a.m. Monday, four others have openly said they will also run for the position.
Greenville businessman Mark Lynch received the second highest share of votes in the June 9 primary. Lynch is now again running for the seat.
Attorney Duke Buckner, who had previously run against U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn in the race for South Carolina's 6th Congressional District, announced he would join the race.
U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, too, said he'd enter the race. Norman represents South Carolina's 5th Congressional District and came in third in the June 9 GOP gubernatorial primary.
U.S. Rep. Russell Fry also said that he'd be joining the race. Fry represents the state's 7th Congressional District.
Fry is also running for reelection to his current seat. He is allowed to run for both under state law, but he can only accept one position if he were to win both. Another wave of special elections would be triggered depending on which position Fry were to accept if he won.
The GOP nominee would face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November's General Election.
