Palmetto Plain

South Carolina · Executive Order 2026-16

How SC filled its U.S. Senate vacancy: the July 13 appointment, the special primary and the Nov. 3 election

Appointment July 13, 2026

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The short version

  • U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham died on July 11, 2026, creating a vacancy in one of South Carolina's two U.S. Senate seats, according to the Governor's executive order.
  • On July 13, 2026, Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham of Lexington, the senator's sister and the S.C. Commission for the Blind commissioner since 2019, to serve until January 3, 2027. State law (S.C. Code Section 7-19-20) lets the Governor fill a Senate vacancy by appointment.
  • Because Sen. Graham was the Republican nominee for the 2026 election, the Governor's office said state law allowed the party to hold a special primary to pick a new nominee. Darline Graham won the August 25 runoff, according to AP.
  • On the November 3, 2026 ballot for the full six-year term, WIS reports four candidates: Darline Graham (Republican), Annie Andrews (Democratic), Kasie Whitener (Libertarian) and Mark Hackett (Constitution).
Status
Appointment made July 13, 2026 by Executive Order 2026-16; the appointment runs until January 3, 2027. The seat is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.
Official source
SC State Register Vol. 50, Issue 8 (Aug. 28, 2026): Executive Orders 2026-15 and 2026-16 (PDF)
Office of the Governor: "Gov. McMaster Appoints Darline Graham to the U.S. Senate" (July 13, 2026)

What happened

  • Vacancy. Executive Order 2026-16 says the Governor was notified “of the passing of Senator Lindsey O. Graham on July 11, 2026, creating a vacancy in a seat in the United States Senate.” Executive Order 2026-15, dated July 12, ordered flags on state buildings lowered to half-staff until his interment. (Executive Orders 2026-15 and 2026-16, State Register Vol. 50, Issue 8)
  • Appointment. On July 13, 2026, the Governor appointed “Darline Graham of Lexington, South Carolina to the United States Senate, who shall serve from this date until January 3, 2027.” (Executive Order 2026-16) The Governor’s office said she is the senator’s sister, has been Commissioner of the S.C. Commission for the Blind since 2019, and is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. (Governor’s news release, July 13, 2026)

What the law says

  • U.S. Constitution. The Seventeenth Amendment lets a state legislature empower the governor to make temporary Senate appointments until the people fill the vacancy by election. (Executive Order 2026-16, quoting the 17th Amendment)
  • State law. S.C. Code Section 7-19-20 says that for a vacancy from death, resignation or otherwise, “the Governor may fill the place by appointment which shall be for the period of time intervening between the date of such appointment and January third following the next succeeding general election.” If a vacancy occurs less than 100 days before a general election, the appointment runs to January 3 after the second general election. (S.C. Code § 7-19-20)
  • This case. The executive order notes the next general election, November 3, 2026, was more than 100 days after the vacancy, so the appointment runs until January 3, 2027. (Executive Order 2026-16)

The election

  • Special primary. The Governor’s office said that because Sen. Graham was the S.C. Republican Party’s nominee for the 2026 Senate election, state law allowed the party to hold a special primary to choose a replacement nominee. Filing ran July 21–28, the special primary was August 11, and the runoff was August 25. (Governor’s news release, July 13, 2026)
  • Result. AP reported that Darline Graham won the Republican nomination in the August 25 runoff against U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, after they were the top two finishers in a 10-candidate primary. (AP, Aug. 25, 2026)
  • November 3 ballot. WIS reported the general election field as Republican Darline Graham, Democrat Annie Andrews, Libertarian Kasie Whitener and Constitution Party candidate Mark Hackett, and that the winner will serve a six-year term. (WIS, Aug. 26, 2026)

Who it affects

Every South Carolina voter. U.S. senators are elected statewide. Whoever wins on November 3 takes the seat for the term that begins in January 2027, when the appointment ends. (Executive Order 2026-16; S.C. Code § 7-19-20)

What it means for you

  • To check your registration, find your polling place or see your sample ballot, use the State Election Commission’s site, scvotes.gov.
  • Palmetto Plain does not endorse candidates. For each candidate’s positions, see their own materials and news coverage.

Current status

The appointment is in effect until January 3, 2027. The general election is November 3, 2026. (Executive Order 2026-16; Governor’s news release)

Sources

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Every statement above is drawn from the official source text linked here; section references are shown in grey. This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Spot an error? Tell us.