Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* When South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster last week appointed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s younger sister, Darline Graham, to fill her brother’s vacancy, it was widely assumed she’d serve as a temporary “caretaker” senator through the end of the year. Those assumptions were mistaken.
“I’ve made a decision,” she told Fox News’ Sean Hannity as the week got underway. “I’m in.”
Graham has already received President Donald Trump’s backing as she seeks a full six-year term, but she will apparently not run unopposed: Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman have also launched campaigns for the seat. (Rep. Nancy Mace considered the race before bowing out.)
As for the unusual nominating process, a weeklong filing period is now underway, which will be followed by an Aug. 11 special primary. If no one wins a majority, there will be an Aug. 25 runoff.
* It’s primary day in Arizona, featuring a variety of interesting contests, including a Republican gubernatorial race that pits two incumbent members of Congress against each other: Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert. The winner will take on incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in the fall.
* In Nebraska’s Senate race, Cindy Burbank, the Democratic nominee, filed the paperwork late last week to withdraw from the general election as part of an effort to boost independent candidate Dan Osborn.
* Republican officials across North Carolina are trying to move early voting sites off college campuses and reduce Sunday voting. There’s no great mystery as to why: As The New York Times reported, officials in both parties have called the moves “a blatant attempt to make it harder for students and Black voters to cast ballots.”
* In Pennsylvania, the latest Quinnipiac poll found incumbent Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro well positioned to win a second term: He leads Republican challenger Stacy Garrity 53% to 40%.
* Speaking of the Keystone State, the same poll found Democratic Sen. John Fetterman’s approval rating among Pennsylvania Democrats down to just 19%, which is extraordinarily weak support for an incumbent lawmaker.
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