President Donald Trump is considering backing Darline Graham for the full Senate term to replace her brother, the late Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, two sources tell NOTUS.
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 but has not publicly endorsed her to run for a full term.
In recent days, however, Darline Graham has expressed to the White House that she wants to run for the Republican nomination for the full term, sources told NOTUS, and Trump is considering backing her. 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.
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One of the sources told NOTUS that she is Trump’s first choice and endorsing her would help avoid a messy Republican primary that would take place over the span of a few weeks. The special election is scheduled for Aug. 11 and a runoff, if necessary, on Aug. 25.
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.
Darline Graham or Andrews would be the first female elected to represent South Carolina in the Senate.
One source familiar with the discussion told NOTUS that Trump would consider backing Fry if Darline Graham decides not to run.
The White House and Darline Graham’s office did not immediately respond to requests from NOTUS for comments.
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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