South Carolina Leaders Honor Late Senator Lindsey Graham as Special Primary Approaches

On Wednesday, July 29, state officials, national figures, and residents gathered at First Baptist Church in Columbia for the funeral service of longtime U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. The ceremony followed a procession down Hampton Street from the South Carolina Statehouse, featuring a South Carolina State Guard horse-drawn caisson and a four-jet flyover by the 169th Fighter Wing from McEntire Joint National Guard Base.

Graham passed away on July 11 at his home in Washington, D.C., at age 71. Funeral speakers included former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, Governor Henry McMaster, U.S. Senator Tim Scott, and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn. Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, attended the service alongside family members. The Columbia service followed a Tuesday ceremony at Washington National Cathedral, where President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance spoke.

The passing of Senator Graham directly impacts the Grand Strand and Horry County, where he played a central role in securing federal funding for regional infrastructure over his two decades in the Senate. According to regional officials, Graham’s efforts helped secure $73 million for ongoing beach renourishment, as well as past funding for Interstate 73 right-of-way acquisitions, municipal stormwater outfalls in North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and Myrtle Beach, and early funding for Horry-Georgetown Technical College.

With Graham's seat open, attention turns to an accelerated special election schedule. Governor McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone to fill the seat through January. Nordone is among at least ten candidates running in the special Republican primary scheduled for Tuesday, August 11. Early voting for the primary opens on Wednesday, August 5, with a runoff set for August 25 if necessary. Under state rules, voters who participated in the June Democratic primary are not eligible to vote in this Republican special primary.

The primary field includes local U.S. Representative Russell Fry (SC-7), who is seeking the Senate seat while remaining on the November ballot for his current House position. Grand Strand voters preparing for the upcoming primary can review their voter registration status and primary eligibility through state election channels ahead of the August 5 early voting start date.