President Donald Trump has publicly backed Darline Graham Nordone, the newly appointed South Carolina senator and sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, encouraging her to seek the seat permanently. Trump announced his support on Friday through a Truth Social post, pledging his “Complete and Total Endorsement” should she decide to enter the special Republican primary next month.
Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham Nordone to the Senate seat just days after her brother’s unexpected death. She will occupy the position until the next Congress begins in January 2027, with Republicans vying for the full six-year term to be decided in a special primary on August 11, 2026.
“She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot,” Trump wrote of Graham Nordone. He noted that Lindsey Graham was among the finest senators he had encountered and credited his sister with possessing the same devotion to the United States and South Carolina.
Trump urged Graham Nordone to run for the seat as a way to honor her brother’s legacy. He characterized her as someone who “comes from an absolutely incredible family” and claimed she “has been a WINNER all of her life.”
Graham Nordone is making history as South Carolina’s first female senator and the first woman ever appointed as a senator’s sibling to the upper chamber. Sources close to the situation indicated that she has been privately exploring the prospect of mounting a campaign for the full term.
Three individuals involved in the discussions confirmed to The Associated Press that Graham Nordone has begun preliminary conversations regarding a potential Senate race. She received her appointment on Monday and was sworn in the following day.
Candidates seeking to run must file between July 21 and July 28. Several prominent Republican figures, including Representatives Russell Fry, Nancy Mace, and Ralph Norman, along with Lt. Governor Pamela Evette, have also expressed interest in competing, according to AP reporting.
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