AP Decision Notes: What to expect in South Carolina’s special primary to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham

Ten Republican candidates will vie in a special primary election on Tuesday to replace the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on South Carolina's general election ballot. Among the contenders are two congressmen, a former governor, and Graham's sister, who has recently been appointed to serve out the remainder of his term. The special primary election comes after Senator Graham's unexpected death on July 11 from an aortic tear, which left not only his Senate seat vacant but also his spot on the Republican ticket for the 2024 presidential election.

Senator Lindsey Graham secured the June 9 Republican primary for renomination but his passing has created a significant vacancy in both his Senate position and the Republican nomination for the presidential race. U.S. Senator Darline Graham, appointed by Republican Governor Henry McMaster, has received President Donald Trump's endorsement to run in the general election as the new Republican nominee.

The special primary contest includes U.S. Representatives Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, former Governor Mark Sanford, and business owner Mark Lynch, who previously ran against Lindsey Graham in the June 9 primary. Norman, a third-place finisher in the gubernatorial primary, has a history of seeking the gubernatorial nomination. If no candidate secures a majority in the special primary, the top two vote-getters will advance to a special primary runoff on August 25, after which the winner will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician from Charleston.