Russell Fry trailed in South Carolina’s GOP Senate special primary on August 11, finishing in second place with 24.5% of the vote as early results came in, behind appointed incumbent Darline Graham’s 29.5%, according to The Washington Post.
The special primary election, held exactly one month after Senator Lindsey Graham’s unexpected death on July 11, determined which Republican would advance to a runoff scheduled for August 25. Graham died from an aortic dissection, according to the D.C. medical examiner, at age 71 while seeking a fifth Senate term.
Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, to fill the remainder of his term on July 13, 2026. She became the first sibling in U.S. history to be appointed to succeed a senator since the 17th Amendment provided for direct election of senators in 1913. Graham had won the June 9 regular primary with 56.8% of the vote before his death triggered the special primary process.
Fry, a U.S. Representative for South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District, emerged as one of Graham’s strongest challengers in the crowded field. With 12% of votes counted at 11:35 PM on election night, Ralph Norman, another U.S. Representative from South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, came in third with 24.1%. Former Governor Mark Sanford followed with 15.2%, while businessman Mark Lynch registered 4.9%.
Since no candidate was expected to reach the 50% threshold needed to win outright, the race advanced to a runoff. The August 25 runoff will determine the Republican nominee who will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the November 3 general election. Trump had endorsed Darline Graham in the primary, though some conservative activists in the state disagreed with his decision, citing her lack of political experience and voting record.
The South Carolina Senate seat has been held by only two people since 1956: Strom Thurmond and Lindsey Graham. The winner of the November general election will be the third person elected to this seat. South Carolina has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980, every Senate election since 2004, and every gubernatorial election since 2002.
Sources
- The Washington Post — live election results showing Fry’s vote share and position in the primary
- Ballotpedia — background on the special primary process, Lindsey Graham’s death, and Darline Graham’s appointment
- The New York Times — confirmation of election timing and candidate field
- Reuters — reporting on the special primary election and Graham’s appointment
- AP News — candidate backgrounds and race context
