By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-01 15:25:54 | Updated at 2026-08-02 18:10:08
1 day ago
Republicans scrambling to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham are facing an unexpected problem: Lawyers and candidates warn that if one of the state’s GOP House members wins the Senate seat, it would trigger a separate special election for that House seat and temporarily shrink the party’s razor-thin majority.
Facing that prospect, President Trump late last month threw his support behind Darline Graham, the sister of his longtime friend who died suddenly July 11 at age 71. But potential rivals had already laid plans to jump in the South Carolina race — and a dozen did just that, setting up an election sprint and an uncertain outcome.
Trump said he asked Darline Graham to run “for the Good of our Nation,” saying there would be “nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey.”
But some state Republicans disagree, making the race the latest to test the power of Trump’s endorsement.
The move did not deter Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who had been expressing interest. “She can be beaten even with [a] Trump endorsement,” said one South Carolina source, who said Norman had been out “begging” for Trump’s nod.
Norman has a conservative voting record in line with much of Trump’s agenda, although he backed home-state Gov. Nikki Haley in the 2024 GOP presidential primary. He now edges Darline Graham by less than a percentage point in the RealClearPolitics polling average.
An Emerson poll released Thursday found Norman leading the Aug. 11 Republican special primary with 22%, followed by Darline Graham at 19% — a result that would force an Aug. 25 runoff because no candidate would clear 50%.
South Carolina allows people to run for House and Senate at the same time — although they can’t serve simultaneously in both jobs.
So if a House member were to win the Senate seat, a special election would decide that person’s successor and leave House Republicans down one more lawmaker until May 2027 — with a narrow 218-212 majority already hanging in the balance.
“It’s a cluster,” said one longtime state GOP operative.
This isn’t a problem for Norman, who didn’t seek reelection to his House seat after running for governor in a June primary.
The biggest headache for Republicans may be Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.). If he wins the GOP nomination and then defeats Democrat Annie Andrews in the Nov. 3 election to fill the late Senator’s seat, he would have to vacate his House seat. That would trigger a separate special election in 2027 for his congressional district, leaving House Republicans short a vote for months.
“It really does play into potentially handing the gavel to Hakeem Jeffries,” said an advisor to Norman.
Candidates in the race aren’t allowing much daylight between themselves and Trump.
Norman spoke with Trump before the president met with Graham Nordone and immediately renewed his support for Trump’s Save America Act to require ID when voting and proof of citizenship to register, as well as ending the Senate filibuster — two issues near and dear to the president.
“I think he’d nuke the whole thing,” said the Norman advisor about the potentially crowded GOP field, calling Norman “the most conservative candidate in the race.
“He’s not going to put the House majority in jeopardy by running.”
Darline Graham was sworn in last month to fill the remainder of her brother’s term after being appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster. She spoke at his memorial service at Washington’s National Cathedral on Tuesday.
She had been expected to fill only the caretaker role before jumping into the race. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said she’s been off to a “remarkable start” and asked “Why not her?”
Rep. Nancy Mace, who grabbed 12% in her run for South Carolina governor, had been considering a run but ended up throwing her support to Norman. So did the group Turning Point USA.
Former Gov. Mark Sanford, who famously claimed he was hiking the Appalachian Trail when he vanished for six days in 2009 (he was actually with his Argentine lover), was in “all the way,” said the state GOP operative. He announced last week saying he wants to address the crushing national debt, and was set to get back on the campaign trail Saturday.
Businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to the late Senator in the June primary and blamed voter fraud, revived his campaign.
Gov. McMaster’s lieutenant governor, Pamela Evette, had also considered entering the race despite losing the governor’s primary with Trump’s endorsement, but opted out.
Republicans will first choose their nominee in the Aug. 11 special primary. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two will meet in an Aug. 25 runoff before facing Democrat Annie Andrews in the Nov. 3 special general election.
