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South Carolina Republicans vie for Senate seat, with Israel policy a key focus

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A special Republican primary in South Carolina will select a nominee for the US Senate seat vacated by the late Lindsey Graham.
  • While the winner is expected to be pro-Israel, it is uncertain if they will prioritize the issue as Graham did.
  • Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, has secured Trump's endorsement and is a leading candidate in the race.

South Carolina Republicans are heading to a special primary election this Tuesday to choose a successor for the late US Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham, a staunch ally of Israel and a vocal critic of Iran, held the seat for 23 years. While the eventual nominee is expected to be supportive of Israel, their commitment to foreign policy and Middle East issues may not match Graham's.

If other people are quite that hawkish, then they just don’t have the platform and power to say it. Whereas, he did.

— Scott HuffmonProfessor of political science at South Carolina’s Winthrop University, commenting on the candidates' potential influence compared to the late Senator Lindsey Graham.

Scott Huffmon, a political science professor at Winthrop University, noted that while other candidates might be hawkish on certain issues, they lack Graham's platform and influence. Graham, who passed away in July, was a long-serving member of key Senate committees and frequently visited Israel. His foreign policy views were shaped by his Cold War upbringing, leading to a consistently pro-Israel stance.

Following Graham's death, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed his sister, Darline Graham, to fill the remainder of his term. Despite limited policy experience, she quickly garnered President Trump's endorsement and is now running in the special primary. She faces competition from other Republicans, including current members of Congress Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, as well as former governor Mark Sanford and businessman Mark Lynch.

He viewed peace in the Middle East through the lens of a protected Israel.

— Scott HuffmonProfessor of political science at South Carolina’s Winthrop University, describing the late Senator Lindsey Graham's foreign policy perspective.

Recent polling indicates a close race between Darline Graham and Ralph Norman, with Norman showing slightly higher support. Norman's priorities include the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. The outcome of this election will determine who represents South Carolina in the Senate and how the state's foreign policy priorities, particularly concerning Israel, will be shaped in the post-Lindsey Graham era.

It would be really tough for a new person to have the traction to do that, even if they believe just as strongly as the late Senator Graham.

— Scott HuffmonProfessor of political science at South Carolina’s Winthrop University, discussing the challenge for new candidates to match Senator Graham's influence on Middle East policy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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