COLUMBIA, S.C. — Leading contenders seeking to fill Lindsey Graham’s U.S. Senate seat gathered Wednesday at his funeral in Columbia, South Carolina, balancing public mourning with subtle political maneuvering ahead of a competitive special election.
Senator Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, who was appointed to complete his term, was present at the First Baptist Church and received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump to run for the full term. She solemnly accompanied her brother’s coffin and spoke briefly during the service, emphasizing her focus on issues affecting ordinary South Carolinians, such as healthcare and the cost of living, positioning herself as distinct from Graham’s established Washington approach.
Several other candidates with connections to the late senator also attended the service. Representative Russell Fry, a former intern for Lindsey Graham, has branded himself as a “conservative MAGA candidate,” seeking to appeal to the state’s hard-line Republican base. Former Governor Mark Sanford, who previously named Graham the godfather of one of his children, has taken a focus on domestic economic concerns such as gas and housing prices, contrasting his priorities with Graham’s strong support for aggressive foreign policy measures, including backing military action against Iran. Representative Ralph Norman, 73, invoked his tenure in the House Freedom Caucus to question Darline Graham’s experience and assure voters of his consistent conservative votes.
The political dynamics in South Carolina remain fluid ahead of the special primary election set for August 11. Nine candidates qualified for the ballot by Tuesday’s deadline, and campaign spending is already intensifying. A political action committee supporting Fry plans to spend approximately $500,000 on television advertising, while Sanford’s campaign intends to allocate nearly $350,000. Darline Graham’s campaign, in coordination with the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has purchased over $90,000 in broadcast time, supplemented by support from Security is Strength PAC, which previously backed Lindsey Graham.
The funeral brought together a broad spectrum of South Carolina’s political figures, reflecting the late senator’s bipartisan appeal. Governor Henry McMaster, Senator Tim Scott, former Congressman and Fox News host Trey Gowdy, and Representative Jim Clyburn, the state’s longest-serving Black lawmaker and its only Democrat in Congress, attended and shared memories of Graham’s public service and humor. While speakers expressed support for Darline Graham, endorsements were notably absent amid the presence of other rival candidates.
Gowdy, delivering a tribute, noted that Lindsey Graham was aware his support within the state was waning in recent years, acknowledging divisions between the senator and portions of the Republican electorate, particularly members of the MAGA movement who had remained skeptical of Graham’s earlier criticisms of Trump and his foreign policy stance.
In his remarks, Governor McMaster called Graham “one of South Carolina’s greatest sons,” praising his considerable impact and stating, “I am confident, as are you, there will never be another Lindsey Graham.” The upcoming special primary will test which candidate can best capture the late senator’s legacy amid shifting political currents in South Carolina.