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South Carolina awaits a major change in its representation after the death of Lindsey Graham, a powerful senator known for his zealous advocacy of military intervention, as every Republican candidate promises to bring a more domestic focus to the job.
His death triggered a competitive special GOP primary to be held Tuesday. The winner will advance to the November election against Democrat Annie Andrews in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat for U.S. Senate since 1998.
Leading most polls is Graham’s younger sister, newly minted Sen. Darline Graham, 62. She had never held public office before Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, appointed her at President Trump’s urging.
She has inherited many of her brother’s political assets — his Senate and campaign staff, the support of his Super PAC and the president’s endorsement — but she has made clear she has different priorities.
“Lindsey was probably much more focused on national security, and I know that’s important, but I will probably be focused more on affordability,” she recently told Fox News.
She has also advocated overriding the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold, breaking from her brother’s stance.
Ms. Graham faces a fight for the nomination and could be forced into a runoff even if she does not get over 50% of the vote.
Mark Lynch, a businessman who won almost 29% of the vote in a primary challenge against Lindsey Graham in June, is running again and says he would be radically different than the late lawmaker.
“I break from Graham’s interventionist record and endless spending by prioritizing America First, cracking down on foreign aid, slashing government waste, focusing hard on the rule of law and affordability for South Carolinians,” Mr. Lynch told The Washington Times in a statement.
South Carolina state Rep. Jordan Pace said many South Carolina Republicans have long wanted a change from Graham.
“At least since 2014 there’s been a sizable 20 to 30% of the electorate that was desperate to get anybody but him,” said Mr. Pace, who supports Rep. Ralph Norman’s bid.
In the initial 2026 GOP primary on June 9, Lindsey Graham won handily, but more than 43% of voters chose one of several challengers.
Source: Read the original article on www.washingtontimes.com