Following the sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham, potential candidates to fill his Senate seat have begun to emerge. Among those mentioned are Representative Nancy Mace and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. Graham was in the midst of a reelection campaign against Democrat Annie Andrews for the upcoming November election, which was considered a strong Republican hold according to the Cook Political Report.
A source close to Mace indicated that she is "strongly considering" a run for the Senate seat and plans to release polling data soon. Mace, who has served South Carolina's 1st congressional district since 2021, previously ran for governor but lost in the Republican primary.
In a statement on social media, Mace expressed her respect for Graham, stating, "South Carolina lost a giant last night... no one ever questioned his love for South Carolina or the fight he brought to every room he walked into."
President Donald Trump, speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," mentioned he has a preferred candidate to replace Graham but did not disclose the name. He praised Governor McMaster, saying, "Henry's been a great governor... I think Henry will be fantastic."
According to South Carolina state law, McMaster is required to hold a special primary election on August 11 to fill Graham's position on the November ballot, with the filing period for candidates opening on July 21. McMaster has the authority to appoint someone to fill Graham's role temporarily. Michelle LeClair, McMaster's press secretary, stated that the focus is currently on honoring Graham's legacy, and further details about the vacancy process will be provided later.
Additionally, Representative Joe Wilson expressed interest in the interim appointment but later clarified his intention to focus on his reelection campaign in South Carolina's 2nd congressional district.