Graham, Norman advance to runoff for US Senate GOP bid, AP projects

Lucy Valeski, The State on Aug 11, 2026

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — U.S. Sen. Darline Graham and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman are heading to the runoff for the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate with 32% and 24% of the special primary vote, according to The Associated Press’ projections.

With 1,683 of the state’s 2,312 precincts fully reporting, U.S. Sen. Darline Graham holds an early lead with about 33% of the 265,000 votes reported, according to the state’s election commission. U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry are vying for the second spot in the runoff.

Norman has 24%. Fry has 20%, trailing by about 10,000 votes. Former Gov. Mark Sanford is in fourth with about 14% as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. All results are unofficial.

The runoff will be Aug. 25 since no candidate garnered more than 50% of the vote. The winner will compete against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November.

The sudden death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey 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

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. Polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

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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