Drew McKissick breaks down the voting rules for the new special primary

FULL Show - 7.13.2026 - The Charlie James Show

Monday, July 13th, 2026 - The Charlie James Show HOUR 1 1st - Charlie James discusses Senator Lindsey Graham's death and mixed legacy. 2nd - Charlie James takes listener calls on Lindsey Graham's opportunist legacy. 3rd - Charlie James talks with Sherry Biggs on Lindsey Graham's passing & legacy. 4th - Mike Lee seeks to pass the SAVE America Act to honor Lindsey Graham's legacy. HOUR 2 5th - McMaster appoints Darline Graham Nardone to fill Lindsey Graham's Seat 6th - Drew McKissick breaks down the voting rules for the new special primary 7th - Ralph Norman reflects on Lindsey Graham's legacy and constituent service 8th - Charlie James takes final listener calls concerning Lindsey Graham's legacy HOUR 3 9th - Nate Leupp discusses Trump's looming endorsement to unite South Carolina 10th - Chuck shares recovery advice; Charlie James updates on special primary dates 11th - Mark Lynch officially enters the special primary to succeed Lindsey Graham 12th - Charlie James highlights potential candidates and fields listener calls. HOUR 4 13th- Lee Bright critiques political systems; Mark Lynch rejoins Senate race 14th- Nate Leupp evaluates the truncated primary rules and dynamic campaign models 15th- Charlie James discusses election decorum and shares some vacation memories 16th- Charlie James discusses newly fast-tracked special primary election rules.

H4: Lee Bright advocates for an open GOP primary contest, while Mark Lynch officially announces his campaign for the Senate.

The fourth hour of The Charlie James Show primarily focuses on navigating the sudden medical and political fallout following the passing of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. Host Charlie James interacts with listeners who call in to share their medical perspectives on aortic dissections or express frustration regarding the compressed three-day early voting window and the overall timing of the upcoming August 11th special primary. James pushes back aggressively on a newly released campaign video by Democratic challenger Dr. Annie Andrews, forcefully arguing that her progressive political stances are fundamentally out of alignment with South Carolina's conservative voters. The broadcast wraps up with a breakdown of potential Republican contenders—including on-air candidate Mark Lynch—as well as anticipation surrounding an impending, strategic primary endorsement from Donald Trump.

Nate Leupp evaluates the truncated primary rules and dynamic campaign models

In this opening segment of the third hour, host Charlie James checks in with local political figures to discuss the moving parts of the newly created election timeline. Nate Leupp, Chairman of the 4th District Republican Club, details the challenges of a condensed, four-week special primary window following Senator Lindsey Graham's passing. Leupp shifts his local strategy to focus exclusively on this crucial federal vacancy, arguing that the brevity of the cycle demands a candidate with ready-made campaign infrastructure and significant financial resources. He also anticipates a unifying endorsement from President Donald Trump, which he believes would help the party conserve critical financial reserves for the general election against Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews.

Lee Bright critiques political systems; Mark Lynch rejoins Senate race

In this opening segment of the fourth hour, host Charlie James moderates a series of discussions reflecting the political shifts after Senator Lindsey Graham's passing. State Senator Lee Bright emphasizes that South Carolina needs a true conservative contest rather than a party coronation, pointing out the absolute irony that the newly scheduled August 11th special federal primary will land on the exact date state lawmakers previously claimed was too expensive to open for redistricting votes. Following Bright, businessman Mark Lynch officially announces his candidacy for the vacant Senate seat on the program. Lynch, who previously secured second place behind Graham in the regular primary on an "America First" platform, shares that he felt obligated to honor his base of conservative grassroots supporters. The segment concludes with Charlie James breaking down the newly fast-tracked special primary timeline, noting that early voting will be compressed into a three-day window ahead of the August vote.

H3: Charlie James points out Russell Fry rumors and discusses Nardone's vote role

In this segment of the program, host Charlie James checks in with local political figures to discuss the moving parts of the newly created election timeline. State Senator Lee Bright emphasizes that South Carolina needs a true conservative contest rather than a party coronation. Bright highlights the absolute irony that the newly scheduled August 11th special federal primary will land on the exact date state lawmakers previously claimed was too expensive to open for redistricting votes. Following Bright, businessman Mark Lynch joins the program to officially announce his candidacy for the vacant Senate seat. Lynch, who previously secured second place behind Graham in the regular primary on an "America First" platform, shares that he felt obligated to honor his base of conservative grassroots supporters. Full Audio Transcript