南卡罗来纳州联邦参议员林赛・格雷厄姆于周六离世，终年 71 岁。格雷厄姆原本计划在今年寻求连任，上个月他在该州共和党初选中拿下近 60% 选票，成功出线。
格雷厄姆猝然离世后，两套补缺程序同步启动：一是选出人选完成他当前这届参议员剩余任期(本届任期将于明年 1 月到期);二是确定候选人，登上今年 11 月大选的选票角逐该席位。
依据南卡罗来纳州法律，州长亨利・麦克马斯特首先将任命临时人选接替格雷厄姆。此后，州长需要敲定特别初选的举办日期，选出共和党候选人，代表共和党参加 11 月大选。
法律并未规定州长必须在多长时限内完成临时任命，但要求州长在完成任命后的五天之内，对外公布特别选举相关安排。
美国广播公司新闻已向南卡罗来纳州选举委员会问询特别选举的时间安排，该委员会负责管理这座 “矮棕榈之州” 的各类选举事务。
目前尚不清楚有哪些政客将会参与这场特别初选。一名熟悉南希・梅斯的消息人士向美国广播公司证实，这位联邦众议员正在考虑参选。梅斯是特朗普总统的坚定盟友，今年她放弃众议院席位，参选南卡罗来纳州州长，但最终落败。
本次特别初选的胜出者，将在 11 月大选当中对阵民主党参议院候选人安妮・安德鲁斯。
Lindsey Graham's death prompts process to fill his Senate seat
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, whodied Saturdayat age 71, was up for reelection this year and won the state's Republican primary last month with almost 60% of the vote.
Graham's unexpected passing sets in motion processes that will ensure someone completes the remainder of Graham's current Senate term, which expires in January, and also elect someone to take his place on November's general election ballot.
Perstate law, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster will first appoint Graham's temporary replacement, after which he will set the date of aspecial primary electionto elect a candidate to stand in Graham's place in the November election.
There is no statutory timeline for when the governor is required to make the appointment but he must by law announce the special election within five days after the appointment.
ABC News has reached out to the South Carolina Election Commission, which oversees elections in the Palmetto State, about the timeline for the special election.
While it's not yet known who might toss their hat into the ring for the special election, Rep. Nancy Mace is considering it, a source close to Mace confirmed to ABC News. Mace is a staunch ally of President Donald Trump who vacated her House seat to make anunsuccessful bidfor South Carolina governor this year.
Whoever wins the special primary will face Democratic nominee for Senate Annie Andrews in November.
