Special Republican Primary Election Set for Aug. 11 to Fill U.S. Senate Seat

South Carolina Republicans will head to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, for a special primary election to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated following the passing of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Early voting for the primary takes place over three days, from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7.

Recent polling from Emerson College Polling and Nexstar Media shows a tightly contested race among a 12-candidate Republican primary field. U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman leads the survey at 22 percent, closely followed by interim Sen. Darline Graham Nordone at 19 percent. U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, who represents Horry County and resides in Murrells Inlet, holds 12 percent, while former Gov. Mark Sanford stands at 11 percent. Approximately one in four likely voters remains undecided.

For residents in Horry County and across the Grand Strand—including Murrells Inlet, Surfside Beach, Conway, and North Myrtle Beach—the election carries specific local implications. U.S. Rep. Russell Fry is running in the Aug. 11 special Senate primary while simultaneously appearing on the Nov. 3 ballot for reelection to his seat in South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District. State law permits candidates to seek two offices concurrently but prohibits holding both. Should Fry win both contests, vacating one office would prompt a subsequent special election funded by taxpayers.

Polling indicates that Fry maintains regional support within his home footprint, drawing 39 percent in the Myrtle Beach media market, though his statewide figure sits at 12 percent. Meanwhile, a former Myrtle Beach mayor, Mark McBride, is also on the primary ballot among the 12 certified Republican candidates.

Because no candidate currently approaches a majority threshold, the contest is anticipated to proceed to a runoff election on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. Early voting for the runoff round will be held from Aug. 19 through Aug. 21. Voter turnout during the mid-August voting window will play a decisive role in determining the nominee. Republican voters planning to participate should check their local polling site locations and note the early voting dates ahead of primary day.