South-Carolina
Editorial: SC Legislature left DUI and THC bills for dead; DUI restrictions can be revived
It’s astounding, in a state that won’t even allow tightly controlled medical marijuana use, that South Carolina has no restrictions on what is essentially recreational marijuana, in the form of highly intoxicating THC products that are sold at convenience stores to anyone who wants them.
It’s the result of hardline Republicans and Freedom Caucuseers on the right who insist on an outright ban even though there’s clearly not sufficient support for that and Democrats who — in a repeat of the alliances that allowed video gambling to thrive for years in our state — reject even the most modest of limits on convenience-store and other small-business sales of hemp-derived products.
This unholy coalition means that for another year — barring federal changes that might be coming — kids who can’t even legally purchase alcohol will be able to walk into convenience stores and purchase THC-infused gummies and seltzers, no questions asked.
What’s even more astounding — and outrageous — is that the stalemate over this matter has endangered a hard-fought effort to reduce South Carolina’s status as the most deadly state for DUI deaths per capita and per mile driven.
Our distinction comes largely as a result of a state law that practically begs drivers to refuse the breath test that is nearly essential for a conviction. A law that requires police to produce a practically perfect video of any tests they manage to administer. A law that forces judges to tell jurors it’s just fine for them to ignore that 0.15 percent blood-alcohol content if the driver just didn’t look all that drunk to them on the perfect video.
Sen. Tom Davis, the chief sponsor of S.52 (and coincidentally, the chief sponsor of bills to legalize medical marijuana), tells us a central effort behind his anti-driving-under-the-influence bill was to make it easier to do blood tests on intoxicated drivers, since breath tests detect only alcohol. We don’t know for sure how big a role legal and illegal cannabis plays in crashes and even deaths — some estimates go as high as 40 percent — but we are certain it’s not zero.
S.52 also would raise penalties for repeat drunken drivers and remove some of the provisions that make it easy for drunk drivers to get off on technicalities.
But the blood-test efforts — which were watered down but not eliminated in a House-Senate conference committee — weren’t the reason the Legislature failed to pass a DUI bill on June 25. The THC provisions in the DUI bill, after all, were not particularly tough. The DUI bill instead was held hostage when Senate Democrats refused to vote for bills that needed a two-thirds vote to pass because they included language that wasn’t in either the House or Senate version. S.52 was on that short list.
The weird good news is that the House voted to reject the THC bill, which Sen. Davis hopes will free up that bill’s supporters to vote for the DUI compromise. And that needs to happen when the Legislature returns to Columbia to pass a budget.
Of course even if budget negotiators do reach a deal on the budget and the Legislature returns to pass it and the DUI bill does become law, it won’t do as much to save lives as the Senate-passed version of the bill, because House leaders, many of whom make a living representing drunk drivers, oppose a DUI law that includes many of the provisions that are commonplace in nearly every other state.
As Mothers Against Drunk Drivers’ Steven Burritt tells us, while the compromise contains some significant improvements, it also creates new loopholes. “It’s frustrating,” he said, “that the original mission of only making the DUI law simpler, fairer and tougher was apparently too much to ask for some.”
But while we urge Senate negotiators to try once more to get some concessions from House negotiators, the fact is that even the inadequate current version will result in the conviction and punishment of a few more people who are driving while they’re drunk or under the influence of THC or cocaine or pain pills or another intoxicant. It will require a few more intoxicated drivers to use ride-share or ride with friends because they have an ignition-interlock system that prevents them from starting their vehicle while impaired. It might even cause a few more people to decide not to drive when they have absolutely no business driving.
And that in turn will prevent a few crashes that leave innocent victims with bills they shouldn’t have to pay and inconveniences they shouldn’t have to endure and injuries they shouldn’t have to suffer. It’ll save a few more lives — and save a few more of our neighbors and friends from the heartbreak of their loved ones’ deaths. And it will cost innocent members of our society absolutely nothing.
But only if the Legislature finally passes S.52. There is no acceptable excuse not to do so.
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTV) – South Carolina voters returned to election polls on Tuesday as they decided who will replace former U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on the November ballot.
On Tuesday, Aug. 11, voters across South Carolina voted for one of the 10 Republican nominees to replace the longtime Senator on the November ballot. Polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day on Tuesday. Those in line to vote at 7 p.m. are still allowed to cast their ballots.
WBTV will track the results for the special Senate primary election as they are reported. Click here to see real-time election results after polls close.
The special Senate primary election follows the sudden death of Sen. Graham who died on July 11. It is believed that Graham likely died after aorta tear after 23 years in office.
In South Carolina, a candidate must receive 50% plus one vote to avoid a runoff. If no one acquires that majority, the top two vote-getters advance to a head-to-head runoff race. If necessary, a runoff will be held on Aug. 25.
Below are the 10 Republican nominees looking to replace Graham on the ballot.
- Greenville businessman Mark Lynch
- South Carolina farmer and business owner Danny Ford II
- Darline Graham
- Former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride
- U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman
- Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford
- Attorney Duke Buckner
- U.S. Rep. Russell Fry
- Retired Air Force Reserve Major Glenda Gail Parker
- Biomedical engineer and businessman Samuel Shepherd
Voter guide: 2026 Special Republican Primary
The U.S. Senate special Republican primary election will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Eligible voters will help narrow the field of candidates ahead of the general midterm election on Nov. 3, 2026. The Republican nominee will run against Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Annie Andrews.
🗳️ What is a special election?
A special election is typically held to replace an official who has died, resigned or been removed from office.
South Carolina’s last U.S. Senate special election was in 2014, when Tim Scott took office.
Anyone who meets the U.S. Constitution’s requirements and South Carolina’s requirements can run for the U.S. Senate special election.
🗳️ Who can vote?
Any registered voter who voted in the June Republican primary — or did not vote in either party’s primary — can vote in the special election.
Anyone who voted in the June Democratic primary cannot vote in the special election.
The deadline to register to vote in the special election was July 12.
Voters can verify their registration status and view a sample ballot on the South Carolina Election Commission website.
🗳️ Voting in-person
Voters in South Carolina are required to show a valid photo ID before they cast their ballot.
Valid IDs include the following:
- South Carolina driver’s license
- South Carolina DMV ID card
- South Carolina voter registration card with photo
- Federal military ID
- United States passport
For more information on photo ID requirements in South Carolina, plus answers to some questions, click here.
🗳️ Find your polling place
For many voters, polling places will look different because of the special election’s quick timeframe.
To find out where you can vote, click here. You will need to fill in your county name, full name, birth date, and the last four digits of your social security number.
Copyright 2026 WBTV. All rights reserved.
SOUTH CAROLINA (WBTV) – The special Republican primary in South Carolina is set for Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Polls opened at 7 a.m., and will stay open until 7 p.m.
The special primary is being held after Sen. Lindsey Graham died suddenly on July 11, just one month after he won the Republican Party’s primary in his bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate.
Prior to his death, Graham was slated to run against Dr. Annie Andrews (D) to keep his Senate seat. Now following his passing, the special primary will determine Andrews’ opponent in the general election this fall.
Graham’s sister — Darline Graham Nordone — was appointed to fill the remainder of his current term, and will be on the special primary ballot as she seeks a full Senate term. She is going by Darline Graham in the Senate.
In addition to Darline Graham, nine other Republicans are on the ballot for the special primary. They are listed below:
- Duke Buckner
- Danny Ford II
- Russell Fry
- Mark Lynch
- Mark McBride
- Ralph Norman
- Glenda Gail Parker
- Mark Sanford
- Sam Shepherd
If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the Aug. 11 special primary, then a runoff would happen on Tuesday, Aug. 25. If a runoff were to happen, early voting would be scheduled for Aug. 19-21.
Where to vote
Unlike during the early voting period where voters could cast a ballot at any voting location in the county they are registered, voters can only vote at their designated precinct on Tuesday.
Voters can click here to find their precinct.
Who is eligible to vote
While South Carolina is an open primary state, voters who cast a ballot in June’s Democratic primary will not be able to vote in the August special primary.
Voters who cast a ballot in the June Republican primary are eligible for the August special primary, as are people who did not vote in either party’s primary back in June.
Photo ID requirements
South Carolina is one of many states that requires voters to show a valid photo ID before casting a vote.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- SC driver’s license
- SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
- SC voter registration card with photo
- Federal military ID
- US passport (includes passport ID card)
More information on photo ID requirements in South Carolina can be found here.
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Copyright 2026 WBTV. All rights reserved.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and Graham’s sister, Sen. Darlene Graham, gathered Monday for the official unveiling of Joint Base Lindsey Graham, honoring the late South Carolina senator and his decades of military service.
During the ceremony, McMaster said naming important places after people gives future generations an opportunity to learn about their lives and accomplishments.
He described Graham as someone who served South Carolina and the country in multiple capacities — in uniform, in Congress and as a public servant.
“Lindsey served it in all three,” McMaster said, referring to Graham’s service in a suit, a military uniform and civilian clothes.
Hegseth highlighted Graham’s longtime support for the U.S. military, saying the senator dedicated his life to serving South Carolina and the armed forces.
Graham served in both the U.S. House and Senate while continuing his military career. Hegseth said Graham understood the importance of maintaining a strong military as a means of protecting the country.
READ MORE | Joint Base Charleston renamed in honor of late Sen. Lindsey Graham at Monday ceremony
Hegseth also pointed to Graham’s support for increased military spending, saying the senator had backed a proposed $1.5 trillion investment in the nation’s military. He recalled a conversation with Graham shortly before his death about funding for the military.
Hegseth said the renaming will allow Graham’s name to travel with Air Force personnel stationed around the world.
“Those gray tails that say Charleston, now when they land in far-flung places will say Graham,” Hegseth said.
Darlene Graham spoke about her brother’s connection to the Air Force, saying his interest in national security and foreign affairs began with his military service.
She said Lindsey Graham initially wanted to become a pilot and earned his pilot’s license in high school, but hearing problems in one ear led him to pursue a career in law instead.
READ MORE | Hundreds honor Sen. Lindsey Graham, remembering a life of service, faith and dedication
Graham later served in the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, where his experience in divided Germany shaped his views on communism.
He left active duty in 1989 and joined the South Carolina Air National Guard. He was activated during the Gulf War and later joined the Air Force Reserve after being elected to Congress.
As a senator, Graham continued serving in the military and completed reserve duty in Charleston in 2003.
He eventually deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, becoming the first member of Congress in decades to serve in an active war zone, according to his sister.
Graham retired as a colonel from the Air Force Reserve in 2015 after 33 years of military service.
Darlene Graham said her brother’s commitment to both the Senate and Air Force was so strong that it could sometimes be difficult to tell whether he was a senator who served in the Air Force or an Air Force lawyer who served in the Senate.
“That’s the man this base is named after,” she said.
The ceremony marked the formal unveiling of the new name, placing Graham’s legacy directly on the Lowcountry military installation where he once completed reserve duty.
Hegseth closed his remarks by welcoming attendees to Joint Base Lindsey Graham and saying the responsibility now falls to those serving today to continue the senator’s work supporting the military.
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