At the third annual Freedom Fry event in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, Republican candidates emphasized the need for unity in the closely contested U.S. Senate race. The event, which serves as a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, also aimed to mend divisions within the party following a contentious primary to replace the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.
According to polls, Darline Graham, Graham’s younger sister and the winner of a 10-way primary, is in a close race with Democrat Annie Andrews for the next six-year term. The intra-party tensions are partly attributed to the son of U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, who lost to Graham in the runoff on Aug. 25, publicly endorsing Andrews. Norman himself has refused to support Graham, and some of his supporters are encouraging voters to write his name on the ballot.
Attorney General Alan Wilson, the GOP nominee for governor, addressed the “hurt feelings” during the event and urged Republicans to vote for Graham. “I’m just going to say it out loud. It’s the unspoken truth. But here’s the reality we have: this is the only option,” Wilson said. He warned that not voting for Graham or voting for Andrews could result in Democrats gaining control of the U.S. Senate.
Republican candidates, including South Carolina’s GOP nominees for statewide and congressional offices, as well as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, also spoke at the event. U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, who finished third in the primary, reiterated the importance of supporting Graham. “The mission is more important than the personalities, and that’s why everybody needs to get out there and support Darline Graham,” Fry said.
Fry, who was expected to seek the nomination before Trump encouraged Graham to run, faced discussions about running for both U.S. Senate and the 7th Congressional District. The state Election Commission confirmed it is legal in South Carolina for candidates to run for multiple offices simultaneously. Fry and Norman, who had previously run for governor, announced their bids for U.S. Senate after Trump’s unexpected encouragement for Graham to run.
