Today South Carolina voters will decide the Republican nominee after longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham died July 11 from an aortic tear, forcing a new special primary in the state.
Sen. Darline Graham, his sister, then took the lead with about 33 percent of the vote. Rep. Ralph Norman finished second with about 25 percent. Meanwhile, Rep. Russell Fry received about 20 percent and later endorsed Graham.
Since no candidate made it to 50% of the vote, the 2 top candidates are facing off in today’s runoff election. The winner advances to the Nov. 3 general election against Democrat Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews.
Darline Graham is currently serving the remainder of her brother’s term as Senator. Before being appointed to the Senate by Governor McMaster, Graham built a public-service career managing teams. She directed communications for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department, and in 2019, she became commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. There she led roughly 100 to 150 employees. In 2026 she also won election as president of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind.
Graham holds major endorsements, both statewide and nationally, including Russell Fry and Governor McMaster. President Donald Trump and Sen. Tim Scott both backed her, and Trump even appeared with her at a Myrtle Beach campaign rally this past Friday.
In contrast, Norman represents South Carolina’s 5th District as a 5-term congressman. He draws strongest support from the Upstate and Piedmont, including populous Greenville County. Graham, however, performed especially well in central South Carolina and the Lowcountry.
Norman has faced growing criticism over the Silfab Solar factory in Fort Mill. He co-founded the Congressional Solar Caucus. Records show he took campaign contributions from Silfab’s lobbying firm, the Solar Energy Industries Association. He also personally called York County Council members and pressed them to approve the project’s fee-in-lieu deal.
At a 2024 public forum, Norman lied about the plant’s chemicals. He compared their operations to everyday products at Home Depot. Yet company documents identify over 2 dozen of the most toxic and explosive chemicals used in industry, including SiH4 gas and TMA, both which ignite on contact with air, as well as large amounts of hydrofluoric acid, boron trichloride, Pyrophorus oxychloride, anhydrous ammonia, sulfuric acid, and numerous other high-hazard substances in a building next door to 2 new Fort Mill schools, hundreds of homes, and a retirement community.
In addition, Norman’s district secured a $5 million federal Solar Energy Technologies Office grant for Silfab in 2024. Later, during debate on President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, Norman initially voted against President Trump’s bill, then negotiated changes to protect Silfab and afterwards cast the deciding vote to approve the bill.
How to vote today in South Carolina
Voters can cast ballots today throughout South Carolina from 7am to 7pm. Anyone in line by closing time may vote.
Eligible voters include those who cast Republican primary ballots in June or on Aug. 11. Voters who skipped both June primaries may also participate. However, anyone who voted in the June Democratic primary cannot take part.
Voters should bring a valid photo ID. Acceptable forms include a South Carolina driver’s license, DMV ID card, photo voter registration card, federal military ID, or U.S. passport.
They can check their polling place and sample ballot at scVOTES.gov.
