Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darling Graham Nordone, becomes a senator
Sen. Chuck Grassley swore in South Carolina Sen. pro tempore Darline Graham Nordone, sister of Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Sen. Darling Graham has received much-needed support from President Donald Trump as he considers running to replace his brother Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11, in the race for the South Carolina seat.
“Run, darling, run!” President Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Friday, July 17th. Graham, 62, “is a lifelong winner and if she accepts, she has my full and complete support,” the president wrote.
The new senator faces one major obstacle. Other potential candidates appear unfazed by Trump’s support for an untested political candidate, as Graham said she wanted to honor her only brother, who was 71 at the time of his death.
The special primary election filing period for the six-year term runs from July 21st to July 28th, with the election scheduled for August 11th. The Palmetto State’s abbreviated primary will continue to test Trump’s influence in the reliably red state. President Trump ultimately endorsed Alan Wilson, the state’s attorney general, in the June 23 gubernatorial runoff after his originally handpicked candidate, Pamela Evett, fell behind in the polls. In the end, Evette lost the race by 37 points.
Despite President Trump’s support for Graham, members of Congress seeking promotion jumped into the race. Rep. Ralph Norman announced his candidacy on July 18, and his House colleague, Rep. Russell Frey, asked for prayers earlier in the day while teasing a “big decision” with his family. South Carolina businessman Mark Lynch also announced his candidacy. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who came in last in a five-way race in June’s gubernatorial primary, teased a run in the wake of Graham’s death, but has since distanced herself from directly discussing her plans in public.
Mr. Graham, who was initially seen as a potential replacement for his brother’s seat, appears to have impressed senators. Fellow South Carolina senator Tim Scott asked, “Why not choose her?” When asked by reporters about a possible run, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt has not yet endorsed Graham, but said on social media that she has shown “class and purpose.” Both senators were accompanied by Senator Chuck Grassley to Mr. Graham’s swearing-in ceremony on July 14th.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Annie Andrews, a doctor and Democrat who lost to Mace in the 2022 congressional race.
Ms. Graham, a mother of two and a member of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, was adopted by her brother. at 1pm After losing his parents 15 months apart when he was young. She supported her brother’s short-lived bid for president in 2016, appearing in his campaign ads.
Graham, also known by his married name Graham Nordon, has remained quiet about his plans, but hinted at a run in a recent “open letter” to South Carolinians on July 18. “Just like he stood up for me when my parents died, it’s now time for me to stand up for South Carolina,” she wrote.
Trump’s support is likely to have a significant impact in South Carolina
Graham’s decision to run for a full term could help avoid problems with House Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson. According to the South Carolina State Board of Elections, current House members who win the June 3 election are legally eligible to run for the Senate.
A victory for the House member could have implications for next year’s razor-thin Republican majority. A South Carolina lawmaker has already endorsed Graham, even though he hasn’t entered the race yet.
Rep. William Timmons, an older golfing buddy of Sen. Graham, said on X, “President Trump has chosen a candidate, and I support his choice,” calling it “a fitting tribute to Sen. Lindsey Graham’s accomplishments.” Timmons added: “I’m proud to call her a friend and look forward to campaigning for her in the coming weeks.”
Mr. Trump wielded tremendous influence during this midterm election period. He supported primary challengers to incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas in the Kentucky primary that drew national attention, and ousted outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie.
