{"id":870,"date":"2026-07-13T16:29:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T16:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/?p=870"},"modified":"2026-07-13T16:29:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T16:29:57","slug":"south-carolinas-process-to-replace-lindsey-graham-is-what-democracy-should-look-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/?p=870","title":{"rendered":"South Carolina\u2019s Process to Replace Lindsey Graham Is What Democracy Should Look Like"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP21096701458217.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"South Carolina\u2019s Process to Replace Lindsey Graham Is What Democracy Should Look Like\" title=\"South Carolina\u2019s Process to Replace Lindsey Graham Is What Democracy Should Look Like\" \/><\/div><p><\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"\">\n<div id=\"article-title-block_66cc8884946e0e843ccbbbcc1a504956\" class=\"article-title \">\n<div class=\"article-title__container\">\n<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>The Palmetto State\u00a0will let\u00a0primary voters nominate Graham\u2019s successor. Maine, on the other hand, is letting a party convention pick Graham Platner\u2019s replacement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad-block ad siderail-ad float-r-w-3 break-r-4\">\n<p>                                    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenation.com\/advertising-policy\" class=\"ad-policy\" target=\"_blank\">Ad Policy<\/a><br \/>\n                                    <\/aside>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n<p>South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, right, joined by US Senator Lindsey Graham, speaks to reporters on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Columbia, SC.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"credits\">(Michelle Liu \/ AP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"is-style-dropcap\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/lindsey-graham-obituary-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sudden death<\/a> of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a onetime Republican \u201cmaverick\u201d who abandoned most of his pretenses toward independent political thinking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southcarolinapublicradio.org\/sc-news\/2026-07-12\/from-staunch-critic-to-fierce-ally-grahams-long-strange-and-consequential-friendship-with-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in the service of Donald Trump\u2019s presidency<\/a>, has upended the politics of the state and nation that he served for 32 years in state and federal office.<\/p>\n<p>Graham was such an enduring Capitol Hill character that his unexpected passing sparked a steady stream of reflections Sunday on the complex legacy of a conservative foreign-policy hawk who once <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ms.now\/rachel-maddow-show\/maddowblog\/maybe-lindsey-graham-s-anti-trump-prediction-was-right-after-n1253048\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">warned Republicans<\/a>, \u201cIf we nominate Donald Trump, we will get destroyed\u2026 and we will deserve it,\u201d but ended up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/videos\/lindsey-graham-trump-greatest-president-023502267.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">declaring years later<\/a>, \u201cDonald J. Trump, in my view, is the greatest president of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yet, American politics is a fast-moving train, and the reaction to Graham\u2019s death at age 71 was instantaneously coupled with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-election\/scramble-replacement-lindsey-graham-midterm-election-senate-seat-rcna552739\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">speculation<\/a> about who would succeed the four-term senator, who was up for reelection in November. Under South Carolina law, Republican Governor Henry McMaster will quickly choose an interim appointee to serve out the Graham term that ends in January. But the real selection of a successor will be made\u2014as it should be\u2014by the people of South Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>South Carolina is now one of two states in the 2026 electoral cycle where partisans must select a new Senate nominee and mount a November campaign that could decide control of the chamber. The other is Maine, where Democratic US Senate nominee Graham Platner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-election\/graham-platner-officially-drops-maine-senate-race-rcna385842\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">filed paperwork Friday<\/a> to formally end his candidacy, in response to a number of controversies, including an allegation of assault by a former girlfriend, which Platner denies.<\/p>\n<p>Under Maine law, Platner had to file that paperwork before 5 <span class=\"tn-font-variant\">pm<\/span> on July 13. In doing so, he created an opening that must be filled by July 27. But Maine statutes don\u2019t specify how a vacancy on the party line should be filled. So Democratic leaders in the state have <a href=\"https:\/\/mainedems.org\/senate-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cobbled together<\/a> a process that starts with county caucuses on July 18 and 19 and then leaves the final choice to a convention where just 601 delegates\u2014101 of them party committee members\u2014will decide who faces Republican Senator Susan Collins.<\/p>\n<p>Maine Democratic leaders promise they will maintain \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wmtw.com\/article\/how-does-maine-democratic-party-choose-new-candidate\/71857778\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a public and open process<\/a>.\u201d But critics associated with the Maine Coalition for Fair Nominations have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bangordailynews.com\/2026\/07\/10\/politics\/elections\/progressives-urge-maine-democrats-to-pick-new-process-to-replace-graham-platner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">complained<\/a> about party insiders\u2019 \u201crushing this process in a way that results in loss of trust.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"current-issue-block_e3ef4bf626e2ceffc055d14451d9966d\" class=\"current-issue  float-l-w-2\">\n<h4 class=\"current-issue__title\">\n                    Current Issue<br \/>\n            <\/h4>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/issue\/july-august-2026-issue\/\" class=\"current-issue__cover\"><br \/>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/cover0726-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cover of July\/August 2026 Issue\"\/><br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Contrast Maine with South Carolina, where state law outlines a far more democratic process.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/south-carolina\/title-7\/chapter-11\/section-7-11-55\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Carolina law<\/a> mandates that an actual primary will be held to replace Graham. Republicans who want to succeed the senator will have from July 21 to July 28 to file for a place on the ballot. A special Republican primary election will then be held on August 11. If no candidate wins a majority of the primary vote, a runoff election on August 25 will settle it. Turnout is likely to be high because, as the Ballotpedia website <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Primary_elections_in_South_Carolina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">notes<\/a>, \u201cIn South Carolina primaries are open, meaning any voter can participate in any one party\u2019s primary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So that\u2019s it: South Carolina has a fast, rules-based process that is designed to maximize participation. A crowded field of GOP contenders is shaping up to choose the Republican who will oppose the impressive Democratic nominee, <a href=\"https:\/\/drannieandrews.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Annie Andrews<\/a>, in a contest that commentator Chuck Todd describes as \u201ca generational opportunity\u201d to name a new senator in a state where congressional turnover is rare.<\/p>\n<p>The Maine model does not compare well with South Carolina\u2019s approach.<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"cta-block_0e05d795b306322ee3f0c7a1ebc05cf6\" class=\"cta float-l-w-3\">\n<p>To be clear here, the onus is not entirely on the leaders of the Maine Democratic Party. They must follow a state law that, when it was written, failed to anticipate circumstances like the one that has developed, and that leaves Mainers with fewer options\u2014including a much narrower window for filling that empty spot on the November ballot. It\u2019s also important to note that Maine Democratic Party executive director Devon Murphy-Anderson and other party leaders have used social-media platforms to keep Mainers informed and to promote participation in the process.<\/p>\n<p>But the South Carolina model simply seems superior from a small-d democratic standpoint\u2014so superior that states across the country should consider adopting it as part of a much broader, and highly necessary, reform of how vacancies in the Senate are filled.<\/p>\n<p>This drive for reform should go beyond primaries.<\/p>\n<p>Under the US Constitution, all vacancies in the House of Representatives must be filled by special elections. In other words, no one is allowed to serve in the House without first facing voters in a general election. And, in the vast majority of states, those general elections for the House are preceded by primaries.<\/p>\n<section aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad fullwidth-ad contained row position-relative ad-block alignfull \">\n    <!--Ad policy starts here--><br \/>\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenation.com\/advertising-policy\" class=\"mid-ad-policy\">Ad Policy<\/a><br \/>\n        <!--Ad policy ends here--><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>But it\u2019s not the same for the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the fact that the Senate is supposed to be elected, governors have since 1913 interpreted a vague section in the 17th Amendment of the Constitution (which established the direct election of senators) as allowing them to fill vacancies by appointment.<\/p>\n<section id=\"popular-block_b5d1696898f9b5e3156eba81576e50b9\" class=\"popular-articles\">\n<div class=\"swiper\">\n<p><h2>Popular<\/h2>\n<p>            <span class=\"swipe-msg\"><span class=\"sr-only\">\u201cswipe left below to view more authors\u201d<\/span>Swipe \u2192<\/span>\n        <\/p>\n<ol class=\"popular-articles__list\">\n<li class=\"popular-articles__list-item swiper-slide\">\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-articles__list-item swiper-slide\">\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-articles__list-item swiper-slide\">\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-articles__list-item swiper-slide\">\n<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>As such, many senators, including currently sitting ones, have served portions of their tenure without ever facing the voters. These unelected senators cast critical votes on issues of war and peace, taxation and spending, and the scope and character of the federal government. Often, their cloture votes make the difference in determining whether an issue is addressed or neglected.<\/p>\n<p>When he chaired the Constitution Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 2000s, Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/archive\/feingold-proposes-direct-election-all-senators\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">proposed<\/a> a constitutional amendment to bar the appointment of senators and to require that all vacancies be filled by voters, as opposed to governors and party insiders.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople deserve a voice in choosing the senators who represent them in Washington,\u201d explained Feingold. \u201cThe constitutional amendment I have proposed requiring the direct election of all senators is the best way to give them that voice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Feingold was right. But his proposal didn\u2019t get traction in a change-averse Senate. Now that attention is again focused on Senate vacancies, it would be a good time to renew Feingold\u2019s push for an amendment, and to work at the state level to make sure that voters, rather than party leaders, get to choose their nominees for open Senate seats.<\/p>\n<p>This is what democracy should look like.<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-end-\" class=\"article-end \">\n<div class=\"article-end__authors\">\n<div class=\"article-end__author\">\n<h5 class=\"article-end__author-name\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/john-nichols\/\">John Nichols<\/a><br \/>\n                    <\/h5>\n<p>                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NicholsUprising\" class=\"article-end__author-twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"14\" viewbox=\"0 0 17 14\" fill=\"none\"><br \/>\n\t<default:path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M15.2054 3.54558C15.2122 3.6951 15.215 3.84463 15.215 3.99527C15.215 8.58792 11.7194 13.8834 5.32683 13.8834C3.36455 13.8834 1.53779 13.3083 0 12.3221C0.271606 12.354 0.548252 12.3702 0.828257 12.3702C2.45677 12.3702 3.95536 11.8147 5.14483 10.8829C3.62384 10.8543 2.34085 9.84963 1.89844 8.4692C2.11068 8.51008 2.32797 8.53136 2.55253 8.53136C2.87006 8.53136 3.17695 8.48936 3.46815 8.40984C1.87772 8.09008 0.680414 6.68501 0.680414 5.00273C0.680414 4.98705 0.680414 4.97305 0.680414 4.95793C1.14858 5.21833 1.68452 5.37514 2.25461 5.39362C1.32219 4.76921 0.708415 3.7063 0.708415 2.5006C0.708415 1.8633 0.879778 1.26633 1.17882 0.753361C2.89302 2.85621 5.45395 4.23887 8.34249 4.38392C8.28313 4.12967 8.25233 3.86423 8.25233 3.59206C8.25233 1.6729 9.80861 0.117188 11.7278 0.117188C12.7274 0.117188 13.6301 0.539436 14.2641 1.21425C15.0559 1.05913 15.8002 0.769041 16.4716 0.370873C16.2118 1.18289 15.6602 1.86386 14.9428 2.29395C15.6462 2.20939 16.3159 2.02235 16.9392 1.74626C16.4739 2.44292 15.8842 3.05557 15.2054 3.54558Z\" fill=\"#666666\"\/><br \/>\n<\/default:svg><br \/>\n                        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-end__author-bio\">\n<p>John Nichols is the executive editor of <em>The Nation<\/em>. He previously served as the magazine\u2019s national affairs correspondent and Washington correspondent. Nichols has written, cowritten, or edited over a dozen books on topics ranging from histories of American socialism and the Democratic Party to analyses of US and global media systems. His latest, cowritten with Senator Bernie Sanders, is the <em>New York Times<\/em> bestseller <a href=\"https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/667864\/its-ok-to-be-angry-about-capitalism-by-bernie-sanders-with-john-nichols\/\"><em>It&#8217;s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <!-- Tag ID: thenation_incontent_2 --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<!-- Tag ID: thenation_registration_billboard --><\/p>\n<section class=\"collections collections--col-0\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<h2 class=\"collections__title\">More from <span class=\"not-italic\">The Nation<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"collection__row\">\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/lindsey-graham-obituary-trump\/\" aria-label=\"Lindsey Graham Chose Evil\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26193248081266.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26193248081266-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26193248081266-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26193248081266-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26193248081266-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26193248081266-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26193248081266-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26193248081266-793x500.jpg 793w\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26193248081266.jpg\" alt=\"Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), gestures as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while in flight on Air Force One, Janiary 4, 2026, as they were returning to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>Conspiracy theorists liked to say that Graham\u2019s Trump sycophancy was a result of blackmail. But the truth is worse: He stuck with Trump to keep the US war machine going.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/content\/obituary\/\" class=\"collections__label\">Obituary<\/a><br \/>\n                                            <span class=\"collections__divider\"><br \/>\n                            \/<br \/>\n                        <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                        <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jeet-heer\/\">Jeet Heer<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/protecting-liberty-protecting-people\/\" aria-label=\"Protecting Liberty, Protecting People\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7-13_FEAT_1440.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7-13_FEAT_1440-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7-13_FEAT_1440-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7-13_FEAT_1440-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7-13_FEAT_1440-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7-13_FEAT_1440-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7-13_FEAT_1440-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7-13_FEAT_1440-793x500.jpg 793w\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7-13_FEAT_1440.jpg\" alt=\"Protecting Liberty, Protecting People\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<p class=\"dek\">On July 4, 2026, a large group of masked members of Patriot Front entered the Washington, DC, Metro system. This artwork is inspired by a Reuters photograph by Cheney Orr.<\/p>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/content\/oppart\/\" class=\"collections__label\">OppArt<\/a><br \/>\n                                            <span class=\"collections__divider\"><br \/>\n                            \/<br \/>\n                        <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                        <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/andrea-arroyo\/\">Andrea Arroyo<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/graham-platner-lessons-political-establishment\/\" aria-label=\"The Graham Platner Fiasco Proves Messiah Politics Is No Alternative to a Failed Establishment\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.55.38-AM.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.55.38-AM-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.55.38-AM-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.55.38-AM-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.55.38-AM-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.55.38-AM-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.55.38-AM-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.55.38-AM-793x500.jpg 793w\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-9.55.38-AM.jpg\" alt=\"Graham Platner\u2019s video dropping out of the US Senate race in Maine.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>Democratic leaders have rightfully lost credibility. But that\u2019s no excuse for political adventurers to seize the moment and pump up false saviors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                                            <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jeet-heer\/\">Jeet Heer<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/maga-murder-inc\/\" aria-label=\"MAGA Murder Inc.\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FEAT_1440-1.gif\" alt=\"MAGA Murder Inc.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>        <!-- Tag ID: thenation_btf_medrec --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"tpContentAuthor\" value=\"John Nichols\"\/><br \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"tpTags\" value=\"campaigns-and-elections,elections,politics,election-2026,maine,south-carolina\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script type=\"bc981531e081cbdc57bae527-text\/javascript\">\n\t\t!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n\t\t{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n\t\tn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n\t\tif(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n\t\tn.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n\t\tt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n\t\ts.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', 'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n\t\tfbq('init', '233793277040432');\n\t\tfbq('track', 'PageView');\n\t\t\t\t<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Palmetto State\u00a0will let\u00a0primary voters nominate Graham\u2019s successor. Maine, on the other hand, is letting a party convention pick Graham Platner\u2019s replacement. Ad Policy South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, right, joined by US Senator Lindsey Graham, speaks to reporters on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Columbia, SC. (Michelle Liu \/ AP) The sudden death of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP21096701458217.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[1817,1688,1196,1793,1818,1819,1795],"class_list":["post-870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-carolinas","tag-democracy","tag-graham","tag-lindsey","tag-process","tag-replace","tag-south"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}