Mark Lynch, who lost to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham last month in the South Carolina Senate GOP primary, has revived his Senate bid following Graham’s sudden death.
“A lot of you have asked. Yes, it’s official. I’m committed to finish what God has called us to since February of 2025. To bring the U.S. Senate seat of South Carolina back to TRUE Conservative leadership for the Republican party,” Lynch said on Monday.
“I want to again personally thank all of you who supported us with your time, treasures and talents, your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Now I’m calling on you again as we FINISH this fight,” he continued.
A lot of you have asked. Yes, it’s official.
I’m committed to finish what God has called us to since February of 2025.
To bring the U.S. Senate seat of South Carolina back to TRUE Conservative leadership for the Republican party.
I want to again personally thank all of you who… pic.twitter.com/GqrESZvQ9S
— Mark Lynch for U.S. Senate (@MarkLynchSC) July 13, 2026
WYFF News 4 has more:
Candidates can file to be on the special primary ballot beginning at noon on July 21 through noon on July 28.
ADVERTISEMENTThe special primary election to find a nominee to replace Lindsey Graham on the ballot will be held on Aug. 11. Early voting for the special primary will be from Wednesday, Aug. 5 through Friday, Aug. 7.
If no one gets 50% of the vote, a runoff would be held Aug. 25. Early voting for the runoff (if needed) would be from Wednesday, Aug. 19 through Friday, Aug. 21.
Lynch finished a distant second behind Graham in June’s primary.
Graham won the election with 56 percent of the vote, while Lynch had just under 29 percent.
By securing more than 50 percent, Graham avoided a runoff.
Meanwhile, Gov. Henry McMaster has appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve the remainder of his Senate term.
NBC News shared other names floated as possible candidates:
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., is strongly considering running for the now-vacant seat, according to a source familiar with her thinking. Mace ran unsuccessfully for governor in the state’s June primary.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., publicly said that he won’t run for the seat in a post on X on Monday, citing a conversation he had with the president and Republicans’ slim majority in the House.
ADVERTISEMENT“I was grateful to speak with President Trump today reminiscing about our mutual friend, Senator Lindsey Graham. I assured him my goal is to remain in the House to keep his two-vote majority for the American people!!!” Wilson wrote on social media.
Another potential candidate is Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who just ran for governor and lost in the primary runoff.
A source close to Evette told NBC News that while she and those close to her are still “shell-shocked” by the news of Graham’s death, Evette on Sunday received “dozens of phone calls and texts” encouraging her to jump into the Senate race.
The president endorsed Evette in the governor’s race in May, but it was unclear whether she would be his pick for the now-open Senate race. The source close to the lieutenant governor said that several of the calls and messages she has received have been from “organizations involved in politics at the federal level.”
What are your thoughts?
