Five leading Republican candidates for South Carolina's U. S.
Senate primary will meet for a televised debate on Monday, Aug. 3, in Columbia.
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The event comes as local party activists push back against President Donald Trump's endorsement of Sen. Darline Graham.
The debate, hosted by Gray Media and the South Carolina Republican Party at WIS studios, precedes the Aug.
11 special primary to fill the seat of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died from a torn aorta on July 11.
Early voting begins two days after the debate.
Debate Stage Limited to Top Five
South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick emphasized the significance of the event in a compressed election timeframe that features a crowded nine-person candidate field.
"I think you're going to see it probably get intense," he said.
McKissick explained that limiting the debate stage to the top five polling candidates ensures voters receive a more substantive discussion rather than brief campaign advertisements.
"It wouldn't be very useful for voters at home to hear nine different candidates for just one hour," he said.
"We wouldn't get any fair time in for the candidates, so we've limited it to the top five polling candidates."
The state party invited Sen. Darline Graham, U.
S. Reps.
Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, businessman Mark Lynch, and former governor and congressman Mark Sanford based on non-campaign polling averages.
Five other candidates, including Duke Buckner, Glenda Gail Parker, Samuel Shepherd, Mark McBride, and Danny Ford II—who filed a lawsuit regarding ballot access—did not qualify.
