Senator Darline Graham announced on Monday that she will seek a full term in the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the recent death of her brother, Lindsey Graham. Darline Graham, who was sworn in last week to serve the remaining months of Lindsey Graham’s term set to expire in January, revealed her decision during an interview on Fox News Channel with host Sean Hannity.
Her entrance into the race adds complexity to the already condensed timeline following Lindsey Graham’s passing earlier this month. A weeklong filing period for the Republican special primary begins Tuesday, with the primary scheduled for August 11.
Last Friday, former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Darline Graham, urging her to run and offering his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” Prior to her announcement, Trump had expressed interest in backing Rep. Russell Fry, who declared on Monday his intention to enter the primary. Other Republican contenders include Rep. Ralph Norman and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who has been considering a candidacy. Rep. Nancy Mace announced Monday she would not participate in the race.
Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to fill out the final months of Lindsey Graham’s term last week. McMaster did not label the appointment as a temporary or symbolic arrangement, though a source familiar with his decision-making said the governor had not anticipated Darline Graham’s own run for the seat when he made the appointment.
In her interview, Darline Graham acknowledged the pressure of stepping into her brother’s role, saying she has been “praying a lot” about the decision. She described feeling both the weight of the responsibility and an “inner peace” about her candidacy, affirming that hard work she learned from Lindsey Graham would guide her through the challenges ahead.
Funeral services for Lindsey Graham are planned for next week in both Washington and South Carolina. A preliminary medical examiner’s report indicated he died from a tear in his aorta.
Regarding campaign financing, experts note that Darline Graham cannot directly access the substantial funds remaining in Lindsey Graham’s campaign account due to federal election laws. Bradley A. Smith, a former Federal Election Commission chairman, explained that only $2,000 could be transferred from Lindsey Graham’s campaign to a new campaign for Darline Graham. However, the campaign can provide unlimited support to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which—following a recent Supreme Court decision—may coordinate spending freely with Darline Graham’s campaign.