Nexstar Media Group, the parent company of The Hill and NewsNation, will host a live debate on Aug. 4 featuring the Republican candidates competing for the U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina, which became vacant after the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R).
The debate is scheduled to air from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast across all of Nexstar's stations in the state. The event will take place at the News 2 studios in Mount Pleasant, just outside Charleston.
Moderators for the forum will be Carolyn Murray of News 2 and Alicia Barnes of Queen City News. According to the network, the discussion will center on issues that matter most to voters, including economic growth, education, and healthcare.
Candidates who have been invited and met Nexstar's debate criteria include Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.), who was appointed to fill her brother's seat, Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Russell Fry (R-S.C.), former Gov. Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark Lynch.
The debate comes amid a competitive primary, with recent polling showing Norman and Graham leading the field. That race has drawn national attention, and the debate will offer voters a chance to see the candidates face off directly.
Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar's broadcasting division, emphasized the company's commitment to local communities. "This is an example of Nexstar's responsiveness and commitment to local communities ahead of an unplanned Republican Primary Party's nomination for U.S. Senate," he said. "Nexstar is pleased to offer this debate as a public service to the voters of South Carolina, just as we have done in several other states across the country."
Lindsey Graham died earlier this month from an aortic dissection. He had served in the Senate since the early 2000s. His sister, Darline Graham, was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster (R) to complete his current term just days after his death.
The debate is part of a broader trend of Nexstar hosting similar events in other states, reflecting its role as the largest provider of local news in the country. The forum is expected to provide a critical platform for voters to evaluate the candidates ahead of the primary.
