However, she is determined to step up and complete his term, which runs through January 2027. She expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to honor his memory.
“It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States,” she declared.
“I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way,” she added. In a touching final message to her departed brother, she said: “I miss you more than I can even put into words, but I’m gonna do this. I got it. Thank you.”
While Nordone serves as a temporary caretaker, a fierce scramble is unfolding for the permanent seat. A special primary election is scheduled for August 11, with a one-week filing period starting July 21.
Any necessary runoff election would follow two weeks later on August 25. From that point, the new nominee would have just over two months to campaign for the general election on November 3.
The fast-tracked timeline has raised concerns among Federal Election Commission officials, as federal law requires military and overseas ballots to go out 45 days before an election. For this primary, that deadline would have been June 27, creating a major logistical puzzle.
Several ambitious South Carolina Republicans are already surveying the landscape. State Attorney General Alan Wilson recently won the gubernatorial nomination, overcoming a field that included Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Rep. Nancy Mace, and Ralph Norman.
All of those candidates are now eyeing Graham’s vacant seat following his sudden passing. Evette is getting encouragement from across the state and feels she would have a good chance in the special primary.
It is unlikely that any current House member would be appointed to finish the current term due to the slim Republican majority. U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson assured Trump he intends to remain in the House to keep the two-vote majority for the American people.
However, House members are still expected to run for the next full term, with Mace actively considering the race. Rep. Russell Fry, a top Trump ally from the Myrtle Beach area, is also considered a strong possibility.
Businessman Mark Lynch and former Governor Mark Sanford are also reportedly weighing potential runs. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has fielded calls but expressed no interest in the role, preferring his work for the president.
On the Democratic side, pediatrician Annie Andrews won the nomination last month and has raised more than $8 million. She called on South Carolinians to set partisanship aside and offer gratitude to Graham for his service.
Jaime Harrison, who ran against Graham in 2020, noted they had their share of political disagreements. However, he shared that he always appreciated their mutual respect for South Carolina and the institutions they served.
Junior Senator Tim Scott, who co-chaired Graham’s reelection effort, described his former colleague as irreplaceable. He noted that while America lost a statesman, he lost a close friend.
