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 has gone to a runoff after no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote. Appointed Sen. Darline Graham, who is serving out her brother's term, will face one other contender in a runoff scheduled for two weeks' time, with the outcome set to determine who leads the GOP effort to hold the seat in November.
The crowded primary field included Rep. Ralph Norman, Rep. Russell Fry and a former governor, among others, reflecting intense Republican interest in the vacancy. Speaking to reporters after voting, Darline Graham said she believed she would win the runoff, though the identity of her opponent and the precise vote totals were not fully detailed in the report.
- SC GOP Senate primary heads to runoff; no candidate reached 50%
- Darline Graham, filling her late brother's seat, advances
- Runoff due in two weeks; field included Norman and Fry
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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”.