President Donald Trump endorsed Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) for a full Senate term.
Trump posted on Truth Social that he welcomed Graham to the Oval Office this week after she was sworn in and urged her to run in the August 11 primary to replace Graham as the Republican nominee for Senate.
“I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey. Darline, who comes from an absolutely incredible family, has been a WINNER all of her life and, should she accept, has my Complete and Total Endorsement in the Special Election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina— SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN. RUN, DARLINE, RUN!”
Graham took her seat after Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her in light of the death of her older brother, the late former Sen. Lindsey Graham. Trump had said he would want the younger Graham to fill the seat because her brother’s death came as he had already won the Republican nomination for Senate in the state that has been a lock for the GOP.
South Carolina law stipulates that if a party nominee dies, or is disqualified after their nomination or resigns for legitimate political reasons, there must be a primary election.
Reps. Russell Fry, Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace are all weighing whether to run for the seat. Norman and Mace both ran for the Republican nomination for governor and failed to clear the runoff. The filing deadline is Tuesday.
Norman told reporters this week that he met with Trump and spoke about possibly receiving an endorsement.
Trump endorsed Fry in 2022 against incumbent Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.) after Rice voted to impeach Trump. Meanwhile, Trump chose not to endorse Norman or Mace in their run for governor, but rather Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Evette won the initial primary, but not by enough for her to secure the nomination. For the runoff, Trump double-endorsed her and her opponent, Attorney General Alan Wilson. Wilson won that race and the primary.
So far, Wilson’s father, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) has said he would not seek the Senate seat.
South Carolina voted overwhelmingly for Trump, meaning any Republican nominee for Senate would be the overwhelming favorite to win the election in November against Democrat and pediatrician Annie Andrews.
Graham is nine years younger than her older brother. Lindsey Graham largely took care of his little sister after both of their parents died within the span of months. Lindsey Graham used Social Security survivors’ benefits to feed and clothe his little sister.
Darline Graham Nordone often featured heavily in the elder Graham’s campaigns and advertisements. When Lindsey Graham, a lifelong bachelor, ran for president, he said that his sister would serve as his first lady in a hypothetical White House.
Initially a critic of Trump, Lindsey Graham would go on to be one of Trump’s most outspoken supporters.
