President Donald Trump is backing Darline Graham for the full Senate term to replace her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, he said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump put the endorsement out hours after NOTUS first reported that he was weighing supporting her. In recent days Darline Graham expressed to the White House that she wants to run for the Republican nomination for the full term, sources told NOTUS. Trump’s endorsement will likely help avoid a messy Republican primary that would take place over the span of a few weeks.
Multiple other South Carolina Republicans have been mulling a run, including Reps. Ralph Norman, Russell Fry and Nancy Mace, but none of them have made an announcement one way or another. The special election is scheduled for Aug. 11 and a runoff, if necessary, on Aug. 25.
During a White House meeting between the two on Friday, Trump said he asked her directly to run.
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“I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, ” Trump wrote. “Should she accept, has my Complete and Total Endorsement in the Special Election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina.”
“RUN, DARLINE, RUN!” he added.
One source familiar with the discussion told NOTUS that Trump would consider backing Fry if Darline Graham decides not to run.
Darline Graham was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster last week to fill out the remainder of her late brother’s term after he unexpectedly died early Sunday morning. Trump backed her for the “interim” appointment and had been considering an endorsement for her to run for a full term, two sources told NOTUS.
Her late brother was competing for another term in November against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a physician who ran unsuccessfully for a House seat in 2022.
Semafor first reported that Darline Graham had expressed interest in the position.
Darline Graham or Andrews would be the first female elected to represent South Carolina in the Senate.
Memorials for Lindsey Graham have been scheduled for July 28 in Washington and July 29 in South Carolina, according to his office.
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