Mark Lynch Enters Special U.S. Senate Primary

Businessman Mark Lynch has announced his candidacy in the South Carolina Republican special primary for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Lynch made the announcement Monday on social media, confirming he will seek the Republican nomination in the Aug. 11 special primary.

Lynch first launched his Senate campaign in February 2025 and challenged Graham in the June 9 Republican primary. He received just under 29% of the vote but was defeated by the longtime incumbent.

Throughout his previous campaign, Lynch positioned himself as a conservative alternative to Graham, criticizing the senator’s record and pledging to bring what he described as stronger conservative leadership to the seat.

The special election was triggered after Graham died Saturday from a tear in his aorta. He had represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003 and was seeking a fifth term at the time of his death.

Gov. Henry McMaster has appointed Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister, to serve in the Senate until Jan. 3, 2027. Under South Carolina law, because Lindsey Graham was the Republican nominee for the 2026 election, the South Carolina Republican Party will hold a special primary to select a replacement candidate for the November general election.

Candidate filing for the special primary will be open July 21-28. The Republican primary is scheduled for Aug. 11, with a runoff, if necessary, on Aug. 25. The general election will be held Nov. 3.