Russell Fry
About
Based in Surfside Beach, South Carolina · Age 41
Russell Fry is a Republican U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 7th congressional district, first elected in 2022. He previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives and as Majority Chief Whip. Fry is running for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham in the 2026 election.
U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 7th congressional district (2023–present)
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives (2015–2023)
Majority Chief Whip for the 122nd South Carolina General Assembly (2018)
Practiced law along the Grand Strand for over a decade
Eagle Scout
President of the Student Bar Association at Charleston School of Law
Running a dual campaign in 2026 — his name remains on the November ballot for his SC-07 U.S. House seat while he runs in the Senate special election
Where they stand
Election Integrity & Reform
Wants to pass the SAVE Act, requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections, and says breaking Senate gridlock -- including changing the filibuster if needed -- is worth it to get the bill passed. Calls voter ID a commonsense election-integrity safeguard.
End Corruption, Fraud, and Abuse
Voted in February 2026 to repeal three federal energy-efficiency programs and claw back roughly $300 million in unspent funding, and opposed extending expanded ACA premium subsidies for three more years, saying the enhanced subsidies cost too much and should be allowed to expire.
Border Security and Immigration Enforcement
Sponsored the Kayla Hamilton Act, requiring gang-tattoo and criminal-history screening for unaccompanied migrant children before sponsor placement and barring placement with anyone unlawfully present. Authored a resolution condemning attacks on ICE facilities and officers, and backs finishing the border wall.
Their priorities
Issues Russell is raising that aren't a shared debate across the field.
Defending Constitutional Freedoms
As a state legislator, championed South Carolina's Religion is Essential Act expanding religious-liberty protections for houses of worship, and voted for the federal Antisemitism Awareness Act applying a formal definition of antisemitism to federal civil-rights enforcement on campuses. Frames both as defending faith communities from government overreach.
Support
Money
$495K
raised
$485K cash
cash on hand
Outside money: $1.1M supporting
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