Primary Elections
South Carolina Primary Elections 2026
Primary date, filing deadlines, key contested races, and what to watch in South Carolina ahead of the 2026 general election.
June 9, 2026
Primary Date
June 30, 2026
Runoff / RCV
April 2026
Filing Deadline
Moderate — Governor open seat
Competitiveness
Key 2026 Primary Races
| U.S. Senate | Lindsey Graham (R) up 2026 |
| Governor | Henry McMaster (R) is term-limited — open seat |
| U.S. House | SC-1, SC-5 competitive |
2026 Primary Overview
South Carolina holds primaries with runoffs. Henry McMaster is term-limited, creating a competitive Republican governor primary. Lindsey Graham faces Senate re-election and may attract a primary challenger from his right on Trump-related issues.