Polls closed in South Carolina primary to replace Graham on GOP US Senate ballot

Lucy Valeski, The State on Aug 11, 2026

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — The polls are closed and the South Carolina politicians and voters will be watching the results Tuesday night to see who will replace the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham as the Republican nominee in November.

The sudden death of Graham triggered a speedy special primary election.

Eligible Republican voters had 10 candidates to choose from:

—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

If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, there will be a runoff Aug. 25. The winner will compete against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster cast his vote Tuesday at the Lourie Center near Five Points. He declined to tell reporters who he had voted for, but did outline the qualifications he thought the state’s next U.S. Senator should have.

“Somebody who’s serious, somebody that understands, somebody who’s willing to ask questions, someone who’s willing to listen to the advice from the right sources, not necessarily to agree but to think,” McMaster said, adding a work ethic that includes a desire to learn, attending meetings and seeking information would also help.

Early voting for the special primary closed Friday and 61,775 people cast Republican ballots in the three days of early voting.

Darline Graham voted with her family in Lexington on Tuesday morning. It was the first time her youngest daughter voted, Graham told reporters outside the Lake Murray Baptist Church.

“It’s been one month since Lindsey’s passing, so it’s an emotional day, but yet an exciting day,” Graham said.

Graham, who was appointed to finish her late brother’s term, spent a bulk of the short campaign in Washington, D.C., before the U.S. Senate adjourned for August recess.

“I don’t think I could have done anything differently,” Graham said of the campaign.

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