SC Senate Vacancy Race
Rep. Nancy Mace Considers South Carolina Senate Bid After Graham's Sudden Death, Faces Crowded Field
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Key Points
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Mace previously challenged Graham in the 2014 South Carolina GOP primary and finished fifth; she later ran for the SC State House and then for Congress in 2020.
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She plans to begin exploratory polling this week and has money left over in her federal campaign account from past campaigns to potentially deploy if she moves forward.
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South Carolina law requires a special primary to replace Graham by August 11, creating an urgent timeline for any exploratory bid.
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Gov. Henry McMaster will soon appoint a replacement for Graham, signaling imminent vacancies and a consolidation of power ahead of the election.
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Graham had won the GOP primary with nearly 57% of the vote, underscoring how difficult it could be for any challenger in what’s expected to be a crowded field.
Sen. Lindsey Graham died early June 12 after a brief illness, and Rep. Nancy Mace is already eyeing his South Carolina Senate seat. According to USA Today, Mace plans to begin exploratory polling this week as she weighs a bid to replace the 71-year-old Republican.
The move comes just weeks after Mace finished last in South Carolina's June gubernatorial primary. She is set to leave the House in January, leaving her with few political options — and an open Senate seat may be her next move.
Graham's Death Opens a High-Stakes Senate Vacancy
Graham had served South Carolina in the Senate for more than two decades. Yahoo News noted he was best known for his hawkish foreign policy and fierce support of allies like Ukraine and Israel. He was 71 years old and had been briefly ill before his death on June 12.
His death sets off a fast-moving political scramble in South Carolina. Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement. But South Carolina law requires a special primary to be held by August 11, giving potential candidates almost no time to build a campaign.
Mace Launches Exploratory Effort Despite Recent Primary Loss
Mace is moving quickly. Gadsden Times reported she plans to start polling this week to gauge her chances. She also has leftover money in her federal campaign account from past races, which she could use if she formally enters the contest.
Her political record is a mixed bag. She won her U.S. House seat in 2020. But she also challenged Graham himself in the 2014 South Carolina GOP Senate primary and lost. Most recently, she placed fifth — last — in the June 2025 gubernatorial primary.
Crowded Field and Tight Deadline Create a Steep Climb
Graham won his last GOP primary with nearly 57% of the vote. That kind of dominance shows how loyal South Carolina Republicans were to him. Mace would need to stand out fast in what is expected to be a crowded field of prominent GOP figures chasing the same seat.
The August 11 special primary deadline leaves little room for error. Candidates will need to raise money, build name recognition, and run ads in weeks — not months. For Mace, her existing campaign funds give her a small head start, but her recent fifth-place finish raises real questions about her viability.
What Comes Next as South Carolina Mourns Graham
Gov. McMaster is expected to name an interim senator soon. That appointment will hold the seat until the special election plays out. Meanwhile, Mace paid public tribute to Graham even as she privately explored the race to replace him, according to Sheboygan Press.
The next few days will be telling. If Mace's polling looks strong, she is expected to announce a formal bid. If the numbers disappoint, she may step aside and let others in the crowded GOP field take the lead. Either way, South Carolina's Senate race is already one of the most-watched contests in the country.
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