The 2026 South Carolina Senate race: Darline Graham's Republican primary win

Gone quiet · last story Aug 25, 2026

What this arc covers

The Republican contest for the U.S. Senate seat held by Lindsey Graham: Paul Dans's challenge before Graham's death, the appointment of his sister Darline Graham to the seat, the special primary field including Ralph Norman, Russell Fry and Mark Sanford, Trump's backing of Darline Graham, and her win in the August 2026 runoff.

Lindsey Graham

Earliest story we hold Jul 28, 2025 · 43 stories · 192 independent sources (counted once each) · 393 days

Part ofSouth CarolinaLindsey GrahamDarline GrahamUnited States SenateDonald TrumpRalph NormanNancy MaceMyrtle Beach

Part of The 2026 South Carolina Senate race

  1. Darline Graham's Republican primary winThis arcJul 28, 2025 – Aug 25, 2026
  2. Sen. Lindsey Graham's death and the tributes and funerals that followedJul 11 – Aug 2, 2026
  3. Darline Graham vs. Annie AndrewsSep 11 – Sep 27, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Aug 252026Darline Graham, Ralph Norman battle to replace Lindsey Graham on ballot in South Carolina runoff8 articles · 1 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 0 right
Aug 24– 262026Sen. Darline Graham wins the Republican Senate primary runoff in South Carolina17 articles · 13 independent sources
2 left, 4 center, 5 right
Aug 24– 262026MAGA Inc. spends $827,000 to back Darline Graham on final day of South Carolina GOP Senate runoff7 articles · 7 independent sources
1 left, 2 center, 1 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jul 12 – 18, 2026Who Do SC Voters Want To Replace Lindsey Graham On Ballot? New Poll Shows It's 'Anyone's Race'41 articles · 26 independent sources
    1. Jul 12, 2026What happens next after Lindsey Graham's death? South Carolina law lays out the process
    2. Jul 13, 2026What happens to Lindsey Graham's senate seat? South Carolina law guides next steps
    3. Jul 14, 2026South Carolina Republican Addresses If He'll Run for Lindsey Graham's Seat
    4. Jul 15, 2026No clear favorite in GOP Senate race to succeed Graham in South Carolina: Poll
  2. Jul 13 – 14, 2026Darline Graham, sister of Lindsey Graham, sworn in to fulfill his Senate term354 articles · 105 independent sources
    1. Jul 13, 2026South Carolina governor picks Graham’s sister to serve out his term
    2. Jul 14, 2026Darline Graham, sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, has been sworn in to finish his term
  3. Jul 14 – 17, 2026Darline Graham, Lindsey’s sister, sworn in as his US Senate replacement33 articles · 25 independent sources
    1. Jul 14, 2026Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, sworn in as senator
    2. Jul 15, 2026Only right-leaning coverage:Lindsey Graham’s final act reverberates in Senate as sister is urged to 'keep pedaling'
  4. Jul 16 – 22, 2026Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, says she will run for full Senate term131 articles · 59 independent sources
    1. Jul 16, 2026Tim Scott doesn't rule out Darline Graham running for her brother Lindsey's Senate seat
    2. Jul 17, 2026Trump urges Darline Graham to run for full Senate term as funeral scheduled for Lindsey Graham
    3. Jul 18, 2026'Run, Darline, run!' Trump urges Lindsey Graham's sister to run for full Senate term
    4. Jul 20, 2026Darline Graham says she will run for a full term in Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat
    5. Jul 21, 2026Darline Graham, sister of the late-Sen. Lindsey Graham, will run to succeed him
  5. Aug 8 – 13, 2026Sen. Darline Graham, US Rep. Ralph Norman advance to GOP runoff for US Senate in South Carolina140 articles · 59 independent sources
    1. Aug 8, 2026South Carolina GOP Senate race for Lindsey Graham's seat tightens ahead of primary
    2. Aug 10, 2026Only center coverage:AP Decision Notes: What to expect in South Carolina’s special primary to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham
    3. Aug 10, 2026Darline Graham faces battle for her brother's seat in South Carolina senate primary
    4. Aug 10, 2026South Carolina Republicans hold primary to pick Senate replacement for the late Lindsey Graham
  6. Aug 19 – 21, 2026National security question trips up Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina debate57 articles · 43 independent sources
  7. Aug 22 – 26, 2026Trump support propels Darline Graham to victory in South Carolina runoff33 articles · 27 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jul 2025Oct 2025Dec 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026Aug 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jul 28, 202563313
Jul 6, 202623424
Jul 13, 2026215342539
Jul 20, 202671820124
Jul 27, 202619140
Aug 3, 202637428
Aug 10, 202691916146
Aug 17, 2026111913124
Aug 24, 2026122015109

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

20% left · 52% center · 28% right of 192 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 43 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. July 2025

    Jul 28– 29Project 2025 architect Paul Dans to run against Lindsey Graham in GOP bid for South Carolina Senate seat14 articles · 14 independent sources
    6 left, 3 center, 3 right

  2. July 2026

    Jul 12– 13Rep. Nancy Mace pondering Senate run to fill Sen. Lindsey Graham's seat8 articles · 8 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 5 right
  3. Jul 12– 18Who Do SC Voters Want To Replace Lindsey Graham On Ballot? New Poll Shows It's 'Anyone's Race'41 articles · 26 independent sources
    3 left, 11 center, 7 right
  4. Jul 12– 13What happens next after Lindsey Graham's death? South Carolina law lays out the process16 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  5. Jul 12– 13Here's who could replace Graham in Senate16 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 2 right
  6. Jul 13– 14Darline Graham, sister of Lindsey Graham, sworn in to fulfill his Senate term354 articles · 105 independent sources
    15 left, 37 center, 30 right
  7. Jul 13– 14McMaster appoints Lindsey Graham's sister to serve remainder of his Senate term13 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 7 right
  8. Jul 14– 17Darline Graham, Lindsey’s sister, sworn in as his US Senate replacement33 articles · 25 independent sources
    3 left, 8 center, 8 right
  9. Jul 14– 17Trump urges Darline Graham to run in South Carolina special election10 articles · 10 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 3 right
  10. Jul 15– 19Ralph Norman announces he’ll enter race to succeed Lindsey Graham in Senate21 articles · 21 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 7 right
  11. Jul 15Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin call Lindsey Graham's sister a 'DEI' Senate pick5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 5 right
  12. Jul 16– 22Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, says she will run for full Senate term131 articles · 59 independent sources
    8 left, 14 center, 17 right
  13. Jul 17– 21Nancy Mace won’t run for Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat10 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 5 right
  14. Jul 20South Carolina Republican Russell Fry joins race for Graham Senate seat14 articles · 11 independent sources
    0 left, 5 center, 6 right
  15. Jul 21Nancy Mace endorses Ralph Norman for Senate over Trump’s pick to replace Graham7 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  16. Jul 23– 24Mark Sanford announces campaign to fill late Lindsey Graham's Senate seat16 articles · 13 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 5 right
  17. Jul 28– 31Norman, Graham lead South Carolina GOP Senate primary: Poll18 articles · 9 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 0 right
  18. Jul 30– Aug 6Why Lindsey Graham’s sister isn’t a lock to hold on to his Senate seat8 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 3 right
  19. Jul 31News 2, Nexstar to host GOP U.S. Senate Debate Aug. 4 ahead of South Carolina primary7 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  20. Jul 31– Aug 4Rules for the South Carolina Republican U.S. Senate debate21 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 7 center, 0 right

  21. August 2026

    Aug 1‘Trump threw us all a curveball’: South Carolina Republicans are stewing about Lindsey Graham’s old Senate seat6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  22. Aug 5– 7Early voting begins in special GOP primary for South Carolina's U.S. Senate seat6 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
  23. Aug 8– 13Sen. Darline Graham, US Rep. Ralph Norman advance to GOP runoff for US Senate in South Carolina140 articles · 59 independent sources
    9 left, 17 center, 15 right
  24. Aug 14– 17Russell Fry endorses ex-rival Darline Graham after failing to advance to special GOP US Senate primary runoff12 articles · 10 independent sources
    0 left, 5 center, 3 right
  25. Aug 17– 18Donald Trump to hold rally in Myrtle Beach on Friday, August 215 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  26. Aug 17Trump to campaign for Darline Graham Nordone in South Carolina1 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  27. Aug 17– 21Last day to vote early in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate special Republican primary runoff6 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  28. Aug 18– 19AP Interview: Ralph Norman questions Trump's endorsement of Darline Graham in South Carolina runoff7 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
  29. Aug 19Graham, Norman tangle in South Carolina GOP Senate debate: Three takeaways3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  30. Aug 19– 21National security question trips up Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina debate57 articles · 43 independent sources
    8 left, 9 center, 10 right
  31. Aug 20– 22Watch live: Trump stumps for Darline Graham in South Carolina26 articles · 14 independent sources
    4 left, 6 center, 2 right
  32. Aug 21Sanford backs Norman over Graham in South Carolina Senate runoff: 'Stakes are simply too high'4 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 3 right
  33. Aug 21Trump tries to push Sen. Darline Graham across the finish line over some Republicans’ objections5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  34. Aug 22– 26Trump support propels Darline Graham to victory in South Carolina runoff33 articles · 27 independent sources
    6 left, 6 center, 8 right
  35. Aug 22With his political capital on the line, Trump rallies for Darline Graham in South Carolina6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
  36. Aug 23Tim Scott says ‘without question’ Darline Graham is qualified for Senate2 articles · 2 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 0 right
  37. Aug 24South Carolina’s Primary Battle Heats Up in the Final Stretch1 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  38. Aug 24Tim Scott 'very confident' Darline Graham will win runoff3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  39. Aug 24– 27Darline Graham wins South Carolina GOP nomination to replace her late brother in U.S. Senate31 articles · 22 independent sources
    3 left, 8 center, 5 right
  40. Aug 24– 26Darline Graham, Ralph Norman go head-to-head in South Carolina's GOP Senate runoff13 articles · 9 independent sources
    4 left, 3 center, 0 right
  41. Aug 24– 26MAGA Inc. spends $827,000 to back Darline Graham on final day of South Carolina GOP Senate runoff7 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
  42. Aug 24– 26Sen. Darline Graham wins the Republican Senate primary runoff in South Carolina17 articles · 13 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 5 right
  43. Aug 25Darline Graham, Ralph Norman battle to replace Lindsey Graham on ballot in South Carolina runoff8 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right