Sister of pro-Israel stalwart Lindsey Graham advances to runoff in GOP Senate primary

Nine Republican candidates will vie for the Republican nomination for a US Senate seat in South Carolina, a position previously held by the late Lindsey Graham, a staunch ally of Israel. The winner's priorities remain uncertain, as it is unclear how central Israel will be to their platform. Graham's foreign policy experience and focus on the Middle East, a region he frequently visited, would be challenging for any new candidate to match.

Professor Scott Huffmon from South Carolina's Winthrop University noted that while other candidates might be equally hawkish, Graham's platform and power made his anti-Russia stance particularly impactful. Graham, who died in July from an aortic dissection at the age of 71, served in the Senate for 23 years and the House for eight.

He was a member of the Armed Services and Budget committees and visited Israel about a dozen times since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Graham's sister, Darline Graham, was appointed to finish his term by Governor Henry McMaster. Despite her limited policy experience, she quickly gained President Trump's endorsement and declared her candidacy for the special primary.

The race includes Graham's sister, Ralph Norman, Russell Fry, Mark Sanford, and Mark Lynch. Recent polling suggests Graham and Norman are tied for first place with 22% support each, while Fry and Sanford follow with 12% and 11%, respectively.