Special Elections In SC, GA And OK Could Shape November Midterms

Voters across three states are heading back to the polls on Tuesday for a slate of special and run-off elections that will directly shape the November midterm landscape. South Carolina, Georgia, and Oklahoma face contests ranging from filling Senate vacancies to settling expensive primary battles. These results matter immensely because Republicans hold slim majorities in both the US House and Senate. Every seat counts as these Tuesday votes determine who makes the final ballot for next year's midterms.

In South Carolina, Republicans are returning to the races a second time since June following the unexpected death of Senator Lindsey Graham during his 23-year tenure. Graham was known as one of Congress' most hawkish voices and often advocated for military intervention abroad. He won the Republican primary on June 9, but he died just two days later, leaving a vacancy that requires filling not only for his current term but also to secure a new six-year term starting in January 2027.

The race to replace him features Darline Graham, the Senator's sister who was appointed to finish out her brother's current term, and Representative Ralph Norman. Norman served five terms in Congress before running for governor this year and finishing third in that primary. Darline Graham won the August 11 special primary but failed to reach the majority threshold needed to skip a run-off. She captured roughly 33 percent of the vote compared with about 25 percent for Norman.

Darline Graham dominated central South Carolina, including Columbia and Charleston, as well as counties along the Georgia border where she scored her highest percentages. Norman found his strength in the Piedmont and Upstate regions, particularly around Greenville. She has key backing from Republican Senator Tim Scott and President Donald Trump, who held an early campaign rally for her in Myrtle Beach before endorsing her. The winner will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November.

Polls open at 7am and close at 7pm local time in South Carolina. Georgia is holding a special election to fill a US congressional seat that became vacant after the death of a lawmaker, though details on timing were not included in this specific report. Oklahoma voters are deciding two statewide ballot measures, including one that would add a voter identification requirement to the state constitution.

In Oklahoma, Republicans are settling an expensive nomination fight for governor while Democrats pick a nominee for a US Senate seat. The outcome of the gubernatorial primary has major implications because Democrats have not won the office in 20 years. It also serves as another test of President Trump's endorsement power. State Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former state Senator Mike Mazzei were the top vote-getters among nine candidates in the June 16 primary.

Drummond edged out Mazzei with 26.25 percent to his 25.97 percent, yet both fell far short of the majority needed to avoid a run-off. Both men have poured millions from their personal fortunes into this contest. According to state campaign finance records, Mazzei loaned his own campaign more than $11 million compared with roughly $3 million for Drummond. In total, Mazzei has spent about $12.3 million while Drummond has spent around $9.1 million. Loans aside, Drummond has outraised Mazzei in contributions by a wide margin, taking in about $7.1 million versus approximately $1.5 million for Mazzei.

Trump endorsed Mazzei before the primary and publicly criticized Drummond. The race continues to set the stage for November as voters decide who will represent their interests in Washington and Oklahoma City.

Trump's selections generally show a strong track record when voters head to the ballot box. Yet his personal endorsement does not ensure a win, particularly during gubernatorial primaries. The Oklahoma victor will go up against Democratic state House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson in November. In that same Senate race, nurse N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas took roughly 45 percent of the primary vote for Democrats. That share fell short of the majority needed to skip a run-off election. Lawyer and minister Jim Priest came in second with about 24 percent of the total vote. He held a significant fundraising edge despite that lower showing. Priest raised nearly six times more money than Thomas before the primary even started. His advantage has only grown as the run-off approaches. By August 5, the Thomas campaign listed just $455 in its bank account. That figure stands against about $56,000 sitting with Priest. The eventual winner will face Republican US Representative Kevin Hern for the general election. Hern secured a five-way primary victory by taking around 70 percent of the vote there too.

Voters also have State Question 846 on their ballot this year. This measure would amend the state constitution to demand proof of identity before anyone can cast a ballot. That requirement already exists under current state law so this change adds nothing new legally. Another issue, State Question 844, touches reimbursements local governments receive from the state for lost property tax revenue. This specific program offers incentives for manufacturing companies operating within the region.

Polls in Georgia open at 7am or 11:00 GMT on election day. They close by 7pm or 23:00 GMT that same evening. Residents of Georgia's 13th Congressional District outside Atlanta will get a new representative after a special election run-off Tuesday. This contest replaces the late Democratic US Representative David Scott who died on April 22. The clash between two Democrats will further shrink an already thin Republican majority in the US House. Everton Blair, former Gwinnett County School Board Chairman, and Marcye Scott are the finalists for this seat. They were the top two vote-getters among five contenders in the July 28 all-party special election. Marcye Scott received about 46 percent of that primary vote while Blair took 38 percent. The winner will serve out the remaining few months of David Scott's final term. Neither candidate is running in November for the next full term in this seat which begins on January 3.