Nine candidates are vying to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Aug. 11 special Republican primary. Twelve had initially filed.
The three not qualified to run are Danny Ford, Clark Neilson and Darius Mitchell. Ford was a candidate in the agriculture commissioner's race, and Mitchell attempted to unseat Graham in the June 9 primary. But the SCGOP rules aren't the same as they were in June.
Ford was not certified because he did not vote in at least two of the past three statewide Republican primaries. That rule was enacted July 1.
“While I am deeply disappointed, my love for this state, our farmers, our families, and our communities has not changed,” wrote Ford in a Tuesday night social media post. “Serving South Carolina has never been about a title, it has always been about the people.”
The decision by the SCGOP prevents Ford from running in the next two election cycles.
As for Neilson, he reportedly used a North Carolina address to file to run. Candidates must be residents of South Carolina and have the correct address on file.
The nine names on the Aug. 11 ballot include Duke Buckner, Russell Fry, Darline Graham, Mark Lynch, Mark McBride, Ralph Norman, Glenda Gail Parker, Mark Sanford and Samuel Sam Shepherd.
A runoff, if necessary, will be held Aug. 25. The winner of the special election faces Democratic candidate Dr. Annie Andrews in November.
