COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Republicans met Monday for their first debate ahead of a special primary to fill the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's seat. Nine candidates qualified for the ballot, with five facing off in Columbia. The Aug. 11 primary will determine who advances.
The seat became vacant after Graham died in early July at 71 from an aortic dissection. His sister, Darline Graham, was appointed to serve the remainder of his term and then decided to run for the full seat. Her candidacy carries the explicit backing of President Trump.
Trump publicly endorsed her, urging her to run. "I asked Darline, for the Good of our Nation, to run for the U.S. Senate in the Special Republican Primary on Tuesday, August 11, 2026," Trump said. He added that "nobody better" would honor her brother's legacy—a significant statement in a state he won three consecutive times.
Despite Trump's endorsement, the other four candidates on the stage stressed their own alignment with the president's policy priorities, each aiming to prove conservative credentials while carving out space in a crowded field.
The five candidates clashed primarily on foreign policy while finding common ground on reducing the national debt, lowering costs for South Carolinians and backing the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Rep. Russell Fry drew particular scrutiny heading into the night. Fox News analyst Wilson said Fry "needs this debate more than any other person on that stage right now."
Darline Graham used the debate to introduce herself to Republican voters statewide, repeatedly citing Trump's endorsement as the centerpiece of her campaign.
The primary will test whether that endorsement is enough to carry a candidate in a compressed race. The winner will inherit a seat Lindsey Graham held for more than two decades.
