Voters head to polls Tuesday in key GOP Senate special primary

MORNING HEADLINES | A seat in the United States Senate doesn’t come open that often in South Carolina – just think about the long tenures of U.S. Sens. Strom Thurmond and Fritz Hollings.

But the unexpected July death of incumbent U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has created an unexpected opening on the November ballot. On Tuesday, Republicans will pick their candidate, although the packed GOP special election is likely to lead to a runoff in two weeks.

The current incumbent, the late senator’s sister Darline, just took the job last month. She’s running, along with several others, including GOP U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry as well as former Gov. Mark Sanford. She even has the backing of President Donald Trump.

But national and state political experts are saying the parallels in Darline Graham’s campaign are uncannily similar to the failed recent gubernatorial campaign of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who got the most votes in the regular June Republican primary, but lost to Attorney General Alan Wilson in the runoff.

According to a fresh story by Politico, the snap election campaign – Darline Graham’s first – may be particularly tough in a state that often has bruising races: “Nearly half a dozen local Republican officials and strategists alike believe Graham is in a strong position to win the first round of voting. But whoever secures the second place spot will determine just how much more support she may need from Trump to overcome a one-on-one challenge.”

Any registered voter who did not vote in the June Democratic primary can vote Tuesday, according to the state Election Commission. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close 12 hours later.

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