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Posted on 07/13/2026 10:16:54 AM PDT by House Atreides
… South Carolina’s Code of Laws (§ 7-11-55) holds that if a major party nominee dies after having been chosen in a partisan primary election (as Graham was duly chosen on June 9, 2026) then “the vacancy must be filled in a special primary election.”
While dates haven’t been officially announced by the S.C. Election Commission (SCVotes), based on that statute filing for a special GOP primary election to replace Graham on the Republican ballot will open at 12:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday July 21, 2026 and close one week later, at 12:00 p.m. EDT on July 28, 2026, per the statute and confirmed by our sources.
The GOP primary will be held on August 11, 2026. In the event no candidate receives a majority of ballots cast, the top two finishers would advance to a head-to-head runoff election – not unlike what transpired during the GOP governor’s race last month.
That head-to-head runoff would be held on August 25, 2026.
As for voter eligibility, that’s another question election officials are reportedly studying intently – and there appear to be conflicting views on the subject.
Per our sources, SCVotes commissioners and agency leaders are of the opinion this is a new election – and therefore any registered voter in the state is allowed to participate. However, officials with the SCGOP – whose leaders are currently suing SCVotes over the right to close partisan primary elections – want to prevent anyone who voted in the Democrat primary from casting a ballot for Graham’s replacement.
(Excerpt) Read more at fitsnews.com ...
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SC has open primaries.
“officials with the SCGOP – whose leaders are currently suing SCVotes over the right to close partisan primary elections – want to prevent anyone who voted in the Democrat primary from casting a ballot for Graham’s replacement.”
You are so right. SC should have closed its primaries to open voting long ago. Every state should do the same.
Yes, I know but the question is for SPECIAL elections. Some other states with open elections deal with this by restricting voting in special primary elections to those who voted in the regular primary election using the Republican ballot.
It will be interesting to see what schemes the S.C. “establishment” will try to advance.
SC doesn’t have voter registration by party, so I can’t see how they could close a primary election for either party.
I suppose, however, if the SCGOP lawsuit prevails in time then voting could be limited to those who voted in the GOP primary in June.
Keep in mind that *still* includes a lot of Democrats though.
There was nothing to vote for on the Rat side, so infiltration was rampant. Which makes the lawsuit somewhat moot, but it would still help a little.
My understanding is if a Democrat voted in a Democrat primary, they cannot vote in the Republican primary in that. given cycle.
We have open primaries in TN. But we don’t register by party.
Primary elections should be run - and paid for - by political parties, under whatever rules they want to make and without taxpayer money or legal assistance from States.
“ SC doesn’t have voter registration by party, so I can’t see how they could close a primary election for either party.”
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Other “open” elections states require voters (in the “regular” primary election) to declare which party’s ballot they want to use to vote. If a follow on vote is required (e.g., primary election runoff or special election such as this to replace someone chosen in the party’s primary) voters who, in the primary, voted in a different party’s ballot would be excluded from eligibility to vote in this party’s primary “follow on” election. That process works well in those states and, more importantly, is fair.
Mark Lynch finished second behind Graham in the June 9th primary and should be in a good position to win the rescheduled August primary.
Go Mark!
Hope so. I’m following this closely. It would be good to get a true MAGA Senator from South Carolina.
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