By admin 
A former South Carolina governor, a past Clemson football coach’s son, a North Carolina resident, members of congress and Lindsey Graham’s younger sister are among the contenders looking to represent the Palmetto State in the U.S. Senate.
Read more Who wants to run for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s open seat? Here’s the 12 who filed
Graham died suddenly Saturday, July 11, with a preliminary report indicating he died from an aortic dissection — a tear in the aorta — due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. He was running for a fifth term in the U.S. Senate when he died after easily winning the Republican nomination in June.
His death triggered a special primary election for a new Republican nominee to run in November for a six-year term to the U.S. Senate. The winner of the August special election will compete against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November.
The election is scheduled for Aug. 11, with a runoff occurring Aug. 25 if one candidate does not receive more than 50% of votes. Filing for the seat closed Tuesday at noon.
Read more Joint Base Charleston to be renamed in honor of Lindsey Graham, reports say
Candidates had to pay $10,440 to run for a six-year term to the U.S. Senate, the most expensive filing fee in the state.
Here’s who filed to run for the special election to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order:
Read more Beshear says Senate could expel McConnell, urges him to give more health info or resign
- Duke Buckner: Buckner, a Walterboro attorney, previously ran against U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn in the 6th Congressional District. His campaign website emphasizes improving affordability for South Carolinians.
- Danny Ford II: Ford is an Upstate farmer and son of national championship-winning Clemson football coach Danny Ford. He ran for South Carolina agriculture commissioner in June but lost to President Donald Trump-backed Cody Simpson in a runoff.
- Russell Fry: Fry has represented the Grand Strand and Pee Dee in the U.S. House since 2022 after beating a longtime incumbent who voted to impeach Trump. He previously served in the state House for seven years. Fry is also running for another term in the U.S. House this November.
- Darline Graham: Graham, a former leader of the state Commission for the Blind, ascended to the U.S. Senate this month after Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to finish out her late brother’s term. After receiving Trump’s endorsement, Graham said she would run for the now vacant seat.
- Mark Lynch: Lynch is a Greenville business owner. He ran against Lindsey Graham in June for the Republican nomination, pouring $5 million of his own fortune into the effort.
- Mark McBride: McBride is a former Myrtle Beach mayor. He now lives in Salem, according to his campaign filing.
- Darius Mitchell: Mitchell is a Columbia social media influencer. He also previously ran against Lindsey Graham for the U.S. Senate in June and has branded himself as a “hip hop Republican”
- Clark Nielson: Nielson, a Charlotte business owner, has never run for elected office before. He lives in North Carolina but plans on establishing residency in the state.
- Ralph Norman: Norman represents portions of the Upstate and Midlands in the U.S. House. The congressman is a member of the U.S. House Freedom Caucus. He is not running for reelection after finishing third in his bid for South Carolina governor earlier this year.
- Glenda Gail Parker: Parker filed from a Myrtle Beach address.
- Mark Sanford: Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is running for congress for a second time this year. He previously ran for the First Congressional District before suspending his campaign early.
- Samuel Shepherd: Shepherd, who filed from a Lexington address, said he was an engineer, inventor and entrepreneur.