Darline Graham Announces Run for Full Senate Term With Trump’s Backing

Senator Darline Graham, appointed to the Senate following her brother’s death, says she will seek a full term in the U.S. Senate. Ms. Graham will face off against two sitting GOP congressmen, both of whom have existing relationships with Republican leaders across the state, though she enters the fray with President Trump’s backing. When Senator Lindsey Graham unexpectedly passed away earlier this month, many ambitious South Carolinians began making moves to succeed him. Mr. Trump urged Governor Henry McMaster to appoint Ms. Graham — who was raised by her brother from a young age — to fill out the remainder of his old friend’s term. Last week, Mr. Trump met with Ms. Graham in the Oval Office. The following day, he wrote on Truth Social that she should seek a full term. “During her visit, I asked Darline, for the Good of our Nation, to run for the U.S. Senate in the Special Republican Primary on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey,” the president wrote. “RUN, DARLINE, RUN!”On Monday — one day before the filing period begins — Ms. Graham said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that she would, in fact, seek a full term. “I’m in,” the new South Carolina senator said. “I’ve been praying a lot, talking to my family,” she said. “I know I’m a hard worker. I learned that from Lindsey.”Because her brother had just won the GOP nomination for this year’s Senate race, South Carolina state law lays out a unique process for choosing a new nominee. Ms. Graham will be able to officially declare her candidacy in a sworn statement to state election officials beginning on Tuesday. A special primary will be held on August 11, though if no candidate receives a majority of the vote, then a runoff election will be held two weeks later. Two sitting House lawmakers say they plan to run for the Senate nomination. Congressman Ralph Norman, a Freedom Caucus hardliner who recently lost the Republican gubernatorial primary, announced his candidacy over the weekend. Congressman Russell Fry, who will be on the ballot in November for his House seat whether or not he wins the Senate nomination, said Monday that he, too, would run. Because Mr. Norman was already on his way out, a new Republican nominee to represent his congressional district had already been chosen. If Mr. Fry wins the Senate nomination and the general election, however, Mr. Fry would have to refuse to take the House seat in order to ascend to the Senate. If that happens, Mr. Fry’s seat could be empty for months at the beginning of next year.“I respect Russell Fry and I have enjoyed serving with him in the House, but the reality is, his candidacy could leave his seat vacant until May 18th. This would leave his constituents unrepresented, jeopardize President Trump’s agenda, and put the House at risk of being led by a Speaker Hakeem Jeffries,” Mr. Norman said in a statement Monday. “We can’t let that happen!!”Other potential candidates have also expressed an interest in challenging Ms. Graham for the GOP nomination. Congresswoman Nancy Mace and lieutenant governor Pam Evette, both of whom — like Mr. Norman — lost the recent gubernatorial primary, have both said they are keeping their options open.

Darline Graham Announces Run for Full Senate Term With Trump’s Backing

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