After being appointed as the interim South Carolina Senator, Darline Graham now holds a substantial lead in the race to become the state’s GOP permanent Senate nominee. A recent Quantus Insights poll reveals her commanding position, showing Graham with 30.4 percent support in the initial ballot. Representative Ralph Norman follows with 17.5 percent, Representative Russell Fry with 16.6 percent, and former Governor Mark Sanford at 15.4 percent. Meanwhile, 11.7 percent of voters remain undecided.
When undecided voters were allocated, Graham’s support increased to 33.1 percent. Norman’s support rose to 20.4 percent, Fry to 19.6 percent, and Sanford to 17.4 percent. Newsweek has reached out to Norman’s and Fry’s campaigns for comment.
Special Primary Information
The special primary in South Carolina, scheduled for August 11, follows the sudden passing of Senator Lindsey Graham on July 11. He died from an “aortic dissection” related to cardiovascular disease. The ballot features ten Republican candidates vying to replace the late senator:
- Darline Graham: Interim senator and Lindsey Graham’s sister, supported by Donald Trump.
- Ralph Norman: Conservative congressman from South Carolina’s 5th District.
- Russell Fry: GOP congressman from the 7th District.
- Mark Sanford: Former governor attempting a political comeback.
- Mark Lynch: Businessman from Greenville and past Senate candidate.
- Duke Buckner: Attorney and educator running as a conservative outsider.
- Glenda Gail Parker: Retired Air Force officer focusing on cost-of-living issues.
- Danny Ford II: Farmer and businessman advocating government accountability.
- Mark McBride: Former Myrtle Beach mayor and federal candidate.
- Sam Shepherd: Biomedical engineer and entrepreneur.
Chances of Winning
Despite her lack of elected office experience, Graham’s candidacy gained a notable endorsement when Donald Trump urged her to run, describing her as a “spectacular person” and “true American Patriot.” He stated his support in a Truth Social post.
The Quantus Insights survey marks Graham’s strongest performance in public polling so far. Previous polls showed varied results, with a recent Emerson College survey having Norman narrowly lead and a Resonance Media Services poll from July placing Graham in the lead.
Prediction Markets and Expectations
Prediction markets show greater confidence in Graham’s chances than traditional polls. On platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, Graham is believed to have a clear edge.
With early voting already concluded, the primary is a significant test of Trump’s influence in South Carolina’s GOP. Political analyst Gibbs Knotts cautioned that extensive infighting might weaken the ultimate GOP nominee in the general election.