On Monday evening, the five leading candidates for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in South Carolina squared off in their first debate in Columbia, S.C. One member of the original quintet – interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone – skipped Tuesday’s debate, citing the possibility of Senate votes. “Senator Graham will not participate in tonight’s debate as she fulfills her responsibilities in the United States Senate,” her spokeswoman, Abby Zilch, said. “Our campaign notified the television station in advance that the debate date conflicted with the Senate schedule, but the debate was scheduled regardless.” We need a Congress that stands with… pic.twitter.com/y43ML3MCIK — Mark Lynch for U.S. Senate (@MarkLynchSC) August 3, 2026***In his rebuttal, Norman brushed Lynch’s charge aside.