Rep. Russell Fry (R-South Carolina) announced Monday that he would enter the Aug. 11 special Republican primary to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham (R), who died suddenly earlier this month.
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The move means Fry, a close ally of President Donald Trump, will be running for two offices at the same time. Fry will also appear on the general ballot in November to seek reelection to his seat representing the state’s 7th Congressional District. The GOP primary for that race was canceled last month because Fry was running unopposed.
With interest brewing among South Carolina Republicans over Graham’s Senate seat, the state’s election commission clarified last week that candidates can appear on general election ballots for multiple offices. If Fry were to win both races in November, he would need to choose an office. A special election would then be triggered for the vacated office.
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Rep. Ralph Norman (R) and businessman Mark Lynch also have entered the special primary for Graham’s seat. Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, was sworn in last week to serve out the rest of her brother’s term. Trump has urged her to run for a full term and said she would have his “Complete and Total Endorsement” if she did so.
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