And also, what's the message? Because spending a lot of time in South Carolina, it breaks my heart to see it's even a tight race.

Well, you know, I mean, anytime you have an open Senate seat, you know, and so changing of the guard on that quick notice where you have someone who is not an incumbent, obviously things change, calculus changes.

And you have to be more careful and you have to do more to make sure you get your base vote out.

One thing I'll say, though, about what he's been doing, you'll notice that every round he says, pretend like I'm on the ballot, pretend like I'm on the ballot.

He's talking to low propensity Republican voters, those that voted presidential election cycles, not necessarily midterm cycles.

Those people are the target, no doubt about it.

And, you know, if those folks turn out, then, you know, look, there's no problem.

So do you expect high turnout? Do you expect all these texts or the bombardment is working?

And also, what's the message? Because spending a lot of time in South Carolina, it breaks my heart to see it's even a tight race.

Well, you know, I mean, anytime you have an open Senate seat, you know, and so changing of the guard on that quick notice where you have someone who is not an incumbent, obviously things change, calculus changes.

And you have to be more careful and you have to do more to make sure you get your base vote out.

One thing I'll say, though, about what he's been doing, you'll notice that every round he says, pretend like I'm on the ballot, pretend like I'm on the ballot.

He's talking to low propensity Republican voters, those that voted presidential election cycles, not necessarily midterm cycles.

Those people are the target, no doubt about it.

And, you know, if those folks turn out, then, you know, look, there's no problem.

So do you expect high turnout? Do you expect all these texts or the bombardment is working?

So do you expect high turnout? Do you expect all these texts or the bombardment is working?

Well, I think it's going to be higher than it normally is.

But, you know, this is only the third cycle South Carolina has had early voting.

So first was 22 and 24.

So we are running higher.

105 percent of where we were in 22, the last midterm for early voting.

But that's because more Republicans here are getting used to it.

Are they behaving themselves?

How was she doing in the race? And are you surprised it's that tight? Because it is a tight race there.

Well, you know, it's, yes, but when you're looking at the fact that it's someone new that doesn't have the name ID, essentially, and the background and the party, obviously, that Lindsey had.

I mean, yes, it's a sister, but again, she's someone new.

And Democrats, you know, if I were them, I'd do the same thing.

You're looking at, you know, a change of the guard.

So if you're going to have an opportunity, now's your chance.

So they poured a lot of money into the seat, you know, and they have outspent her at least since the primary.

Is that kind of the messaging coming out in South Carolina the last couple of days?

Thank you.

Okay.

Well, so he was in the upper part of the state, which is where he needed to go to because When you look at the returns from the Senate primary, that's the area that Ralph Norman carried.

So, obviously, he needed to go talk to Ralph Norman supporters and, you know, emphasize with them the importance of the Senate seat and, obviously, its impact on him and his ability to continue to push his agenda.

And had a, you know, huge crowd, and it was, you know, a lot of excitement and enthusiasm and well-received.

Arlene was well-received, so...

You know, I mean, it was what you expect from a Trump rally.

How is she doing in the race? And are you surprised it's that tight? Because it is a tight race there.

Any predictions on your side as far as what we might see in early voting this year?

Well, the real interesting thing to watch is going to be the percentage of people that early vote.

So this is the third general election cycle that we have had since we introduced early voting here in South Carolina.

It was 22 was the first time, then 24, and now.

So we're kind of looking at the percentages of people that early voted in those two cycles and how representative it is of total voters who early vote this time versus wait till election day.

So there'll be a lot of, you know, looking at that, tracking the results every day.

You know, we'll get a file the following morning after every day of early voting that will show us who has early voted.

What's your thoughts on that?

What do you take away from the votes last night?

Well, no doubt about it, Donald Trump matters.

I mean, there's no other way to look at the result here in South Carolina and obviously see what the president did in this particular primary.

He not only endorsed, he not only did several teletown halls, but he actually came and showed up in person, did a Trump rally.

And also he had his MAGA Incorporated committee I know was spending money doing turnout and so forth.

So bottom line, Donald Trump support matters.

It was a close primary.

I mean, she took it to Dr. Annie Andrews and said, we will not have a socialist, especially of all places in South Carolina.

What do you take away from the votes last night?

Well, no doubt about it, Donald Trump matters.

I mean, there's no other way to look at the result here in South Carolina and obviously see what the president did in this particular primary.

He not only endorsed, he not only did several teletown halls, but he actually came and showed up in person, did a Trump rally.

And also he had his MAGA Incorporated committee I know was spending money doing turnout and so forth.

So bottom line, Donald Trump support matters.

It was a close primary.

I mean, she took it to Dr. Annie Andrews and said, we will not have a socialist, especially of all places in South Carolina.

What do you take away from the votes last night?

Well, no doubt about it, Donald Trump matters.

I mean, there's no other way to look at the result here in South Carolina and obviously see what the president did in this particular primary.

He not only endorsed, he not only did several teletown halls, but he actually came and showed up in person, did a Trump rally.

And also he had his MAGA Incorporated committee I know was spending money doing turnout and so forth.

So bottom line, Donald Trump's support matters.

It was a close primary.

I mean, she took it to Dr. Annie Andrews and said, we will not have a socialist, especially of all places in South Carolina.

[laughs]

... to look at the result, uh, here in South Carolina, and obviously see what the president did in this particular primary.

Uh, he not only endorsed, he not only did several tele-town halls, but he actually came and showed up in person and did a Trump rally.

And also, you had, uh, his, uh, MAGA Incorporated, uh, committee I know was, uh, spending money, uh, doing turnout and so forth.

So bottom line, Donald Trump support matters.

It was a close primary.

I say, well, it's five points.

I mean, she took it to Dr. Annie Andrews and said, "We will not have a socialist," especially of all places, in South Carolina.

of course they had a big special election there last night uh for the senate seat uh sadly by the late lindsey graham who we all love so much and joining us now is south carolina gop chair drew mckissick uh drew i i know the two finalists so fill us in and what happens from here

well we have a runoff in two weeks so we're still in high gear i mean uh you know this is what we call a snap primary, you know, under our state law, this is the way it happens whenever we have a vacancy like this on the ticket after we have already chosen a nominee and we have to fill the vacancy for the nomination.

So it only gives, you know, two weeks, uh, basically notice for filing and then a primary, which we had last night and two weeks later we'll have the runoff.

So, uh, they're all in high gear now, but, uh, you know, we had 10 candidates that were, that were on the ballot.

Two made it last night, but the biggest question isn't necessarily who finished first or second.

It's who becomes the second choice of the Republicans who supported candidates that didn't make the cut last night.

At the end of the day, those voters are going to decide the nomination.

She's making her own way.

Drew, I know the two finalists, so fill us in on what happens from here.

Well, we have a runoff in two weeks, so we're still in high gear.

I mean, you know, this is... what we call a snap primary, you know, under our state law, this is the way it happens whenever we have a vacancy like this on the ticket after we have already chosen a nominee and we have to fill the vacancy for the nomination.

So it only gives, you know, two weeks, uh, basically notice for filing and then a primary, which we had last night and two weeks later we'll have the runoff.

So, uh, they're all in high gear now, but, uh, you know, we had 10 candidates that were, that were on the ballot.

Two made it last night, but the biggest question isn't necessarily who finished first or second.

It's who becomes the second choice of the Republicans who supported candidates that didn't make the cut last night.

She's making her own way.

... how beautiful, is going to be filling the seat that the governor, uh, Henry McMaster, just appointed her.

She did.

Or he did.

And, uh, well, I think it's ideal.

I mean, obviously, um, you know, great tribute to, to Lindsay and, who, who essentially raised his sister.

If you're familiar with his story.

Um, but more importantly, you know, you're looking at what you would refer to as a caretaker position.

... is gonna be in the hopper? I mean, how many names might be in the hopper?

Your thoughts about this new news that just came in that his sister, how beautiful, is going to be filling the seat that the governor, Henry McMaster, just appointed her.

She did, or he did, and I think it's ideal.

I mean, obviously, great tribute to Lindsay, who essentially raised his sister, if you're familiar with his story.

But more importantly, you're looking at what you would refer to as a caretaker position.

So someone who's going to fill the seat, but who's not running for the seat.

So she can dedicate all her time to the Senate.

They've got a lot of important votes coming up and so forth, so you don't want someone who's out on the campaign trail also trying to campaign for the job.

Who do you think is going to be in the hopper? I mean, how many names might be in the hopper?

Your thoughts about this new news that just came in that his sister, how beautiful, is going to be filling the seat that the governor, Henry McMaster, just appointed her.

She did, or he did, and I think it's ideal.

I mean, obviously, great tribute to Lindsay, who essentially raised his sister, if you're familiar with his story.

But more importantly, you're looking at what you would refer to as a caretaker position.

So someone who's going to fill the seat, but who's not running for the seat.

So she can dedicate all her time to the Senate.

They've got a lot of important votes coming up and so forth, so you don't want someone who's out on the campaign trail also trying to campaign for the job.

Who do you think is going to be in the hopper? I mean, how many names might be in the hopper?

I imagine you have been incredibly busy over these last 24 hours.

Well, it's a shock, needless to say, as Joy pointed out.

It's not how anybody expects to wake up on a Sunday morning.

Myself, I woke up at 6.30 in the morning by the director of our state election commission.

I had missed all the texts and stuff from folks late in the night.

I'd already gone to sleep and wake up, and this is what we're having to deal with.

Uh, you know, but I mean, obviously someone who had a great legacy, you know, of a service to the country, service to our state, uh, service in the military, you know, here at the state level had been in the state house, the state Senate had served in Congress and then going on to, uh, fill strong Thurman shoes, you know, as our state's, uh, uh, Senator and in the seat there where basically we've had two senators for the over 75 years, I believe.

And to be sure, this August primary is going to be a special primary, right, just for this seat?