No clear favorite in GOP Senate race to succeed Graham in South Carolina: Poll
The Hill · C · trust 50/100
Comments: by Tara Suter - 07/16/26 6:00 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Tara Suter - 07/16/26 6:00 AM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING There is not a clear favorite in the GOP Senate primary race to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), according to a new poll.
The Republican senator was in the middle of seeking his fifth term in the upper chamber but passed away suddenly 71 after an aortic dissection.
In the Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media poll released Thursday, none of the potential candidates cracked a clear lead among the respondents –– no one even cracked 20 percent. The most popular answer, chosen by 17.9 percent of respondents, was “undecided.”
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) led with 16.4 percent support, and businessowner and ordained deacon Mark Lynch came in second with 12.5 percent. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) garnered 10.1 percent; Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette got 9.9 percent; Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.) earned 9.4 percent; Gov. Henry McMaster locked down 7.7 percent; former Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) received 5.4 percent.
Current Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-S.C.), who succeeded her late brother after McMaster appointed her on Monday, obtained 5.9 percent support in the poll. She is set to hold the seat until Jan. 3, 2027.
A special primary will be held on Aug. 11 for South Carolinians to cast their ballot and determine the new GOP nominee on the November ballot, with a runoff slated for Aug. 25 if needed.
The Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media poll took place from July 14 and 15, featuring 500 South Carolinian likely Republican primary voters and plus or minus 4.3 percentage points as its margin of error.
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