What’s Next For South Carolina?

Following Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) sudden passing, Governor Henry McMaster (R-SC) is expected to appoint a replacement who will fill the remainder of Graham’s term. McMaster’s choice could take days.

President Donald Trump weighed in briefly on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” joining the program in honor of the late South Carolina senator who had been scheduled to appear.

“I have somebody that I think would be great,” he said, but also said that it was too soon to get into that just yet. For the remainder of the broadcast, Trump deflected questions about issues like Iran, telling host Kristen Welker that he was there to talk about Graham.

Graham had already clinched his primary in the current cycle, and was set to face off against challenger Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews — a matchup that he was expected to win easily in November.

South Carolina law requires a special primary election ahead of November’s general election since Graham had already won the primary. Potential candidates will be able to file starting the second Tuesday after the vacancy, and will be open for a week. The special primary is then held on the second Tuesday after the filing period closes. A runoff election will be held two weeks later if no candidate receives a majority of the vote. 

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has already expressed interest in the job. After posting a tribute to Graham, Mace quoted a clip saying, “Just when I thought I was out … they pull me back in …” 

“Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in…” pic.twitter.com/1AzRMPAEuc

— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) July 12, 2026

Mace also penned a tribute to Graham, saying, “South Carolina lost a giant last night. For more than three decades, Lindsey Graham gave everything he had to this state and this country, from the Air Force to the United States Senate. We did not always agree, but no one ever questioned his love for South Carolina or the fight he brought to every room he walked into.”

Mace had already opted not to run for reelection to Congress, instead throwing her hat in the ring to become the next Governor of South Carolina. Mace finished fifth in the race. Rumors that South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson was interested in the role began circling, but Wilson announced on Sunday that he spoke to Trump about Graham and “assured him my goal is to remain in the House to keep his two-vote majority for the American people.” 

Professor of Political Science Scott Huffmon at Winthrop University in South Carolina said that he assumes “everyone of one of our current GOP members of the House of Representatives are having some serious conversations at the moment.” He noted “Ralph Norman has a lot of money, a lot of ambition, and just ran a statewide race.” Like Mace, Norman also ran for Governor. Huffmon also mentioned former Governor Nikki Haley and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette.

Official statements on who might jump into a now wide-open field have not yet been made, as many are still publicly mourning Graham’s loss.

Tributes to the late senator are pouring in from friends and colleagues even across the aisle. Senator Elizabeth Warren said, “I got to know Senator Lindsey Graham traveling with him abroad in Afghanistan and Ukraine. We had just met to renew the fight for our Big Tech bill.” She added, “Even though we disagreed on much, he was always willing to negotiate, with humor and wit.”

Andrews, his 2026 Democratic opponent, gave Graham credit for being “a man of great faith who proudly served our nation as a JAG officer and Air Force colonel.” She added that she hopes South Carolinians will set aside partisanship to offer gratitude for Graham’s service to both his state and his country.