Main Facts
As the 2026 primary season reaches its pivotal late-summer stretch, Republican and Democratic voters in three states are casting ballots in key runoff elections that serve as a high-stakes referendum on presidential influence, party ideology, and dynastic political legacies.
At the center of national attention is South Carolina, where Republican voters are selecting a nominee to fill the Senate seat long held by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The special election runoff pits interim Sen. Darline Graham—the late senator’s sister, who was appointed to the post and backed aggressively by former President Donald Trump—against U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, a seasoned conservative lawmaker backed by prominent state Republicans. The race has transformed into a critical test of Trump’s kingmaking abilities within the Republican Party, following a series of high-profile primary defeats for his endorsed candidates earlier this election cycle.
Concurrently, election day brings pivotal contests in Oklahoma and Georgia:
- Oklahoma Republican Gubernatorial Runoff: Trump-endorsed former state Sen. Mike Mazzei is attempting to overcome a second-place finish in the June primary as he faces state Attorney General Gentner Drummond for the GOP nomination in the deep-red state.
- Oklahoma Democratic Senate Runoff: Democratic voters are deciding between N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas, a nurse and democratic socialist, and Jim Priest, a moderate former nonprofit executive. The nominee will advance to face heavily favored Republican Rep. Kevin Hern in November.
- Georgia’s 13th Congressional District Special Election Runoff: Democrats in the Atlanta-area district are selecting a candidate to complete the unexpired term of the late Rep. David Scott. Marcye Scott, the late congressman’s daughter, faces Everton Blair, a former county school board chair, in a race to fill the seat through the end of the year.
Chronology of Events
The primary runoff elections are the culmination of a compressed, turbulent political calendar triggered by unexpected vacancies, shifting endorsements, and intense campaign blitzes.
2026 Primary Season Timeline: South Carolina Special Senate Race & Key Runoffs
├── May 2026: Georgia Regular Primary
│ └── State Rep. Jasmine Clark wins nomination for full term in GA-13.
├── June 9, 2026: Initial South Carolina & Oklahoma Primaries
│ ├── Sen. Lindsey Graham wins SC GOP Senate primary.
│ └── AG Gentner Drummond leads SC/OK contests; Rep. Ralph Norman finishes 3rd in SC Gov primary.
├── July 11, 2026: Death of Sen. Lindsey Graham
│ └── Sen. Graham dies unexpectedly from an aortic tear.
├── July 17, 2026: Interim Appointment & Trump Endorsement
│ ├── Gov. Henry McMaster appoints Darline Graham to interim Senate seat.
│ └── Donald Trump publicly urges Darline Graham to run for full term.
├── July 28, 2026: Georgia 13th District Special Primary
│ └── Marcye Scott (46%) and Everton Blair (37%) advance to runoff.
├── August 11, 2026: SC Special Election Primary & Debate
│ └── Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman advance to runoff; foreign policy debate sparks controversy.
├── August 24, 2026: Trump Myrtle Beach Rally
│ └── Trump holds campaign rally for Darline Graham, framing race as test of his political movement.
└── Late August 2026: Runoff Election Day
└── Final ballots cast across SC, OK, and GA.The South Carolina Timeline
- June 9, 2026: Sen. Lindsey Graham secures the Republican nomination for another term in the U.S. Senate during South Carolina’s regularly scheduled primary. Meanwhile, Rep. Ralph Norman finishes third in the state’s Republican gubernatorial primary.
- July 11, 2026: Sen. Graham dies suddenly from an aortic tear at the age of 71, creating an emergency vacancy in the Senate and throwing state politics into motion.
- July 17, 2026: South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appoints Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister and former head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, to serve out the immediate interim vacancy. At the direct personal urging of Donald Trump, Darline Graham officially enters the special election primary to seek the full six-year Senate term.
- August 11, 2026: In the initial round of the special primary, Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman emerge as the top two vote-getters, forcing a two-week runoff sprint. Former Rep. Mark Sanford finishes fourth, while Rep. Russell Fry finishes third.
- August 24, 2026: Trump campaigns alongside Darline Graham at a high-energy rally in Myrtle Beach, imploring voters to treat the election as a direct proxy vote for his political agenda.
The Oklahoma and Georgia Timelines
- May 2026: Georgia Democrats hold their regular primary for the 13th Congressional District. State Rep. Jasmine Clark defeats a crowded field—including Everton Blair—to secure the nomination for the full two-year term starting in January 2027.
- June 9, 2026: Oklahoma holds its primary elections. In the Republican gubernatorial primary, Attorney General Gentner Drummond secures the top spot ahead of Trump-backed Mike Mazzei, pushing the contest into a runoff.
- July 2026: Following the death of veteran Georgia Rep. David Scott, a special primary is held for the unexpired term of the 13th District. Marcye Scott leads with 46 percent of the vote, short of the 50 percent threshold needed to win outright, advancing to a runoff against Blair (37 percent).
Supporting Data and Electoral Context
Electoral Dynamics in South Carolina
The South Carolina runoff highlights deep schisms within the Palmetto State’s Republican establishment. While Darline Graham benefits from top-tier endorsements, her political background is vastly different from her predecessor’s.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| South Carolina GOP Senate Runoff |
+-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Candidate | Key Endorsements |
+-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Darline Graham | Donald Trump |
| (Interim Senator, Ex-State Comm.) | Gov. Henry McMaster |
| | Rep. Russell Fry (3rd Place Finisher)|
+-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Rep. Ralph Norman | Fmr. Gov. Nikki Haley |
| (U.S. Representative, SC-05) | Fmr. Gov. Mark Sanford (4th Place) |
+-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+A central concern for election officials leading up to Tuesday’s vote has been voter fatigue. South Carolina voters have been asked to turn out for four separate statewide or regional balloting events since the initial primary round in June. Election workers across counties, including Charleston, reported lower early-voting numbers compared to earlier rounds, raising concerns that depressed turnout could create unpredictable outcomes.
The winner of the GOP runoff will face Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the November general election.
Trump’s 2026 Endorsement Record
The South Carolina and Oklahoma contests come amid scrutiny of Donald Trump’s endorsement power during the 2026 midterm cycle. While his support remains highly prized in conservative districts, several of his high-profile primary picks failed to secure nominations earlier this year.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Trump-Endorsed Primary Losses (2026 Cycle) |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| State | Office / Race Context |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Georgia | Gubernatorial Primary |
| Iowa | Gubernatorial Primary |
| South Carolina | Gubernatorial Primary |
| Minnesota | Gubernatorial Primary |
| Wyoming | Gubernatorial Primary |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+Oklahoma Gubernatorial & Senate Numbers
In Oklahoma, Gentner Drummond’s first-place finish in June positioned him strongly against Mike Mazzei. Mazzei’s reliance on nationalizing the race through Trump’s endorsement has clashed with Drummond’s localized campaigning focused on state legal battles and administrative record.
On the Democratic side, the Senate runoff underscores ideological divides within the state party. N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas represents the progressive, democratic socialist wing, while Jim Priest offers a moderate platform aimed at general election crossover appeal. However, the eventual Democratic nominee faces an uphill battle in November against GOP Rep. Kevin Hern in the strongly conservative state.
Georgia’s 13th District Context
The special runoff in Georgia’s 13th District presents an unusual electoral situation. Because state Rep. Jasmine Clark already won the regular primary in May for the full term beginning in 2027, the winner of Tuesday’s runoff between Marcye Scott and Everton Blair will serve only a short tenure of roughly four months to complete the late Rep. David Scott’s unexpired term.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Georgia 13th Special Election Primary Results |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Candidate | Primary Vote Share |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Marcye Scott | 46% (Advanced to Runoff) |
| Everton Blair | 37% (Advanced to Runoff) |
| Others | 17% |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+Official Responses and Campaign Rhetoric
The closing days of the campaign feature sharp rhetorical exchanges, contrasting visions for representation, and clear policy differences.
The South Carolina Senate Clash
The central conflict in South Carolina has revolved around political experience, presidential loyalty, and foreign policy expertise.
At a Friday campaign rally in Myrtle Beach, Donald Trump framed the race around his own political brand, while conspicuously avoiding any mention of Rep. Ralph Norman:
"We’re going to elect Sen. Darline Graham to fight, fight, fight for South Carolina and to always put America first. What I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot."
— Donald Trump, speaking in Myrtle Beach, SC
Darline Graham, who had no prior political or electoral experience before her appointment, drew criticism from political opponents following a televised debate performance in which she addressed foreign policy—a domain traditionally tied to her brother’s legacy as a defense hawk.
During the debate, Graham acknowledged her relative unfamiliarity with national defense:
"I will be honest: I am not that informed on national security matters compared to others who have spent decades in Washington, but I am committed to learning and surrounding myself with strong conservative advisers."
— Darline Graham, during the South Carolina GOP debate
Rep. Ralph Norman immediately seized upon the admission, using social media and campaign advertisements to highlight his foreign policy background as a member of Congress since 2017:
"South Carolina deserves a Senator who UNDERSTANDS Foreign Policy on day one. We cannot afford on-the-job training when our national security is on the line."
— Rep. Ralph Norman, via official campaign social media channels
Norman’s campaign strategy relies heavily on backing from former South Carolina governors Nikki Haley and Mark Sanford, positioning him as a tested conservative legislator capable of stepping directly into federal policy battles.
Election Officials on Voter Fatigue
Local election officials in South Carolina expressed operational concerns regarding turnout levels following repeated trips to the polls. Speaking to local media outlets, election coordinators emphasized the challenges of voter mobilization:
"We are seeing significant voter fatigue across the board. Asking citizens to vote four different times in a matter of months for primary variations is unprecedented, and our primary goal right now is simply ensuring people realize there is an active election happening Tuesday."
— South Carolina County Election Official, statement to ABC News 4 (Charleston)
Political Implications and Midterm Outlook
Tuesday’s primary runoffs carry significant implications for the remainder of the 2026 midterm election cycle and the broader political landscape:
1. The Limits of Trump’s Kingmaker Status
If Darline Graham loses to Ralph Norman, or if Mike Mazzei fails to overcome Gentner Drummond in Oklahoma, it will further illustrate the limits of presidential endorsements in local primary runoffs. While Trump’s backing remains a powerful asset, repeated primary losses suggest that primary voters are increasingly evaluating candidates based on local visibility, executive experience, and personal policy records rather than endorsements alone.
2. Shifts in GOP Foreign Policy Identity
For decades, South Carolina’s political identity was defined by defense hawkishness and interventionist foreign policy, epitomized by the late Lindsey Graham and former Sen. Strom Thurmond. Darline Graham’s non-interventionist, "America First" posture—contrasted with Norman’s focus on formal national security experience—reflects an ongoing shift in how conservative candidates present foreign policy credentials to primary voters.
3. Structural Turnout and Midterm Engagement
The low turnout driven by voter fatigue in South Carolina serves as a cautionary tale for campaign organizers heading into the general election. With high-stakes battles looming for control of both chambers of Congress in November, campaign committees must invest heavily in turnout infrastructure to combat voter apathy following prolonged primary seasons.
The outcomes of Tuesday’s runoff elections will finalize the candidate slate for November, setting the final matchups in crucial Senate, gubernatorial, and congressional races across the country.
