South Carolina Republicans competing to fill the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) slot on the November ballot participated in a debate on Monday, August 4, 2026, with the special primary election just over a week away.

Lindsey Graham, 71, passed away in early July from an aortic dissection after serving in the U.S. Senate since the early 2000s. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) will complete Graham’s current term.

Leading the GOP field in recent polls is Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), followed by Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.), former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R), and businessman Mark Lynch (R). The same candidates qualified for a Tuesday night debate hosted by Nexstar Media Group, The Hill’s parent company.

During the debate, Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister and a candidate in the race, expressed full support for former President Donald Trump, stating, “I’m 100 percent behind him.” Other candidates referenced Trump’s competitive nature, with Nikki Haley (R) saying the president “loves competing ideas,” and Lynch commenting, “iron sharpens iron.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has noted that Republicans currently lack sufficient votes to overcome a filibuster or change Senate rules to pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

Outside of Fry’s critiques of Darline Graham’s experience, the candidates largely avoided direct attacks on her but exchanged barbs among themselves as they sought to distinguish their campaigns ahead of the primary.

Sources