South Carolina Republican Senate primary heads to runoff
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South Carolina’s special Republican Senate primary to succeed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham ended without any candidate winning the required 50% of the vote, sending the contest to a runoff. Appointed Sen. Darline Graham advanced, and the result will determine the Republican nominee for the seat ahead of November’s election.
The crowded field included Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, as well as former Gov. Mark Sanford. The runoff is scheduled for two weeks after the primary; Graham, who is serving the remainder of her brother’s term, said she expected to win.
- No candidate won a majority in South Carolina’s GOP Senate primary.
- Darline Graham advanced to a runoff in two weeks.
- The contest will choose the Republican nominee for November.
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South Carolina is holding a special Republican primary to fill the US Senate seat left vacant by the death of Senator Lindsey Graham. His sister, Darline Graham, was appointed to hold the seat temporarily and is now among those running to keep it permanently, standing against a large field of Republican rivals, including sitting members of Congress and a former state governor.
Because so many candidates entered the race, none won more than half the vote, which under the rules means the top two go through to a runoff to decide the Republican nominee outright. Whoever wins that contest will then represent the party in the wider general election in November, when Democrats and any other challengers will also compete for the seat.
The contest matters beyond South Carolina because it will help settle how competitive the seat is going into the November election, and control of the US Senate can hinge on individual races like this one.
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Originally published by NPR as “In South Carolina, GOP Voters decide who they want to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham”.