The senator and representative are vying to replace the late Lindsey Graham, as the Republican Senate nominee.
GREENVILLE, S.C.—The special Republican primary election to replace the late Lindsey Graham as South Carolina’s Senate nominee has narrowed.
The winner of the Republican contest faces the Democratic nominee, Dr. Annie Andrews, in November.
A crowded field of candidates faced off in the special primary, which was held after Sen. Lindsey Graham died on July 11 following a cardiac episode.
The current senator, a newcomer to electoral politics, replaced her brother in the upper chamber with the support of President Donald Trump, who has also endorsed her campaign for the nomination.
Fry entered the race after Trump suggested during a Newsmax interview that the congressman entering that race “could happen.” He said Fry was “a very, very talented person.”
Norman, who endorsed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley against Trump in 2024, has been backed by figures aligned with the conservative Freedom Caucus.
In addition to Darline Graham, Norman, and Fry, the hopefuls included former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, businessman Mark Lynch, farmer Danny Lee Ford, retiree Glenda Gail Parker, engineer and scientist Samuel Shepherd, lawyer Duke Buckner, and former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride.
Polling ahead of the race did not show a clear frontrunner, though Darline Graham, Norman, and Fry have generally traded the top three spots.
The race quickly attracted big money and attention.
Backers of Fry and Darline Graham dominated ad spending in the race, with $1.5 million and $1.4 million in support, respectively, according to an Aug. 7 analysis from AdImpact. Sanford followed with $866,000, while Lynch and Norman fell third and fourth, garnering $233,000 and $231,000 in that spending, respectively.
Darline Graham also received support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a key hub for GOP fundraising.
Recent campaign finance reports show that her campaign quickly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Sanford and Lynch campaigns led Fry and Norman when it came to cash on hand. While the former governor and businessman had roughly $1.3 million and $547,000 as of late July, at that same period, the two members of Congress had about $485,000 and $171,000, respectively.
