Want to vote for Lindsey Graham's SC GOP replacement? What to know about primary

Lucy Valeski, The State (Columbia, S.C.) on Aug 4, 2026

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina voters will have their say in who will be the next Republican nominee for November’s election to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.

The special GOP primary election is Aug. 11, but registered voters can cast their ballots in-person early. The sudden death of Lindsey Graham left the Republican Party without a Senate nominee, triggering the speedy special election.

The winner of the primary will compete with Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November.

When does voting begin?

The election is Aug. 11, and polls are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Registered voters can also cast their ballot in-person beginning Wednesday. Early voting is open Aug. 5-7 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Who’s on the ballot?

The special primary election is for the Republican U.S. Senate nominee. 10 candidates will appear on the special election ballot:

—Duke Buckner, an attorney from Colleton County

—Danny Ford II, an Upstate farmer

—Russell Fry, congressman representing the 7th Congressional District

—Darline Graham, appointed U.S. senator, sister of Lindsey Graham and former Commissioner of the state Commission for the Blind

—Mark Lynch, a businessman from Spartanburg County

—Mark McBride, a farmer and former mayor of Myrtle Beach

—Ralph Norman, congressman representing the 5th Congressional District

—Glenda Gail Parker, a retired budget analyst living in Myrtle Beach

—Mark Sanford, former South Carolina governor and congressman

—Sam Shepherd, a biologist and businessman from Lexington County

Ford’s name may not be on every absentee ballot. The former agriculture commissioner candidate was not initially certified by the state Republican Party, but state Circuit Judge Daniel Coble ordered South Carolina election officials to add his name to “all ballots feasible for early voting and for election day.”

Who can vote in special primary?

Only registered voters who did not participate in the June Democratic Party primary can cast a ballot in the U.S. Senate special primary.

Those who cast their ballot in the June GOP primary election or didn’t vote at all will be allowed to participate in the August election.

Where are polling places for early voting?

Any eligible voter can cast their ballot in-person early at a designated polling place in their county.

The poll locations for all 46 South Carolina counties are listed on the state Election Commission’s website.

What’s going on with absentee and military ballots?

The state-mandated timeline for replacing Graham on the November ballot conflicted with a federal law aimed at ensuring residents in the military or living overseas, known as UOCAVA, can fairly vote in U.S. elections. Under federal law, states must send absentee ballots to qualified military and overseas voters 45 days before a U.S. election. Under state law, the special primary to replace Graham had to occur 14 days after filing closed.

Military and overseas registered voters will still be able to participate in the special election.

The state Election Commission and U.S. Department of Justice cut a deal aimed at ensuring military and overseas residents could still vote and avoiding litigation from the federal government.

The agreement includes deadlines for the Election Commission to ensure counties have sent out UOCAVA ballots, which allow electronic voting, and reporting requirements to the U.S. Department of Justice.