Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., arrives for the House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
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South Carolina Rep. Russell Fry is the latest Republican in the state to throw his name in the ring to fill the late Lindsey Graham‘s Senate seat, as Graham’s sister, Darline, mulls a run and other hopefuls vie to win the race for a full six-year term.
Fry, in a statement posted to X on Monday, announced he’d run in a special primary election, scheduled for Aug. 11, setting the table for an intraparty clash that includes Rep. Ralph Norman. Darline Graham, who was appointed last week to fill the role on an interim basis through the end of the year, earned President Donald Trump‘s endorsement on Friday, but has not announced whether she’ll seek the party’s nomination.
Filing for the special primary officially opens at noon ET on Tuesday. The winner of that primary will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the general election this November, in a race the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter had labeled “Solid R.
“South Carolina, I’m in! I’m running for the U.S. Senate. Too many South Carolina families are struggling to make ends meet. High gas prices and soaring grocery costs are hurting hardworking people,” Fry said in his post.
“We need a conservative fighter in the Senate who delivers real results. I will be your conservative MAGA candidate in the special primary Senate election this summer. I’m ready for the fight, and I’m all in,” the post continued.
Lindsey Graham, 71, died July 11 of an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a preliminary finding by the Office of the Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia.
Fry is a close Trump ally who has represented South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District in the northeast part of the state since 2023. Norman, a conservative member of the House Freedom Caucus who failed in his bid for South Carolina governor in a GOP primary earlier this year, announced his plans to run for the Senate seat over the weekend.
“I’m running to represent the people of South Carolina in the U.S. Senate because we need a fighter who will stand with President Trump and carry on Lindsey Graham’s legacy! I’ve spent years fighting for the Palmetto State in the state house, in Congress, and now I want to get the SAVE America Act passed in the Senate!” wrote Norman, referencing a controversial, Trump-backed election bill that would impose strict photo ID requirements and require proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
Norman has represented South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District in the north-central part of the state since 2017. He is not seeking reelection to the House.
A primary victory for Fry, who is seeking another House term, could complicate Republicans’ path to retaining a House majority. If successful in his Senate bid, there’s not enough time to replace Fry on the ballot for his House seat in November.
The South Carolina Election Commission confirmed in a statement last week that a candidate can appear on the general election ballot for multiple offices. But if Fry won both seats, he would need to decline to be sworn in to the House, triggering a special election in spring 2027 and potentially leaving the House GOP a member short to start the 120th Congress.
“I respect Russell Fry and I have enjoyed serving with him in the House, but the reality is, his candidacy could leave his seat vacant until May 18th. This would leave his constituents unrepresented, jeopardize President Trump’s agenda, and put the House at risk of being led by a Speaker Hakeem Jeffries. We can’t let that happen!!” Norman posted to X on Monday, referring to the Democratic House leader.
Mark Lynch, a South Carolina businessman who came in second against Lindsey Graham in South Carolina’s June GOP primary, announced on July 13 that he would enter the race. Duke Buckner, who launched two unsuccessful bids, in 2022 and 2024, to unseat Democratic Rep. James Clyburn in South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, has also announced his candidacy.
Graham, who was sworn in last Tuesday, has not officially said whether she’ll seek the seat for a six-year term. In a open letter to her constituents, released over the weekend, she thanked voters for their outpouring of support.
“Lindsey dedicated his life to serving South Carolina and defending our nation. He accomplished so much, yet he still had so many big ideas that he was determined to see through,” Graham wrote. “Now, it’s time for me to step up for South Carolina, just like he stepped up for me when our parents died. In the most challenging of times, I’ve learned God often calls on ordinary people to do extraordinary things.”
And Trump, in his TruthSocial post urging Graham to seek the nomination, called her a “spectacular person, and a true American Patriot.”
“[T]here would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey. Darline, who comes from an absolutely incredible family, has been a WINNER all of her life and, should she accept, has my Complete and Total Endorsement in the Special Election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN. RUN, DARLINE, RUN!” Trump wrote.
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