Darline Graham Will Run for a Full Term in the Senate

Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who was recently appointed to temporarily serve in place of her late brother Lindsey Graham, said on Monday that she is running for a full term.

“I’m in,” Darline Graham told Fox News host Sean Hannity in an interview.

She said there is a “tremendous amount of pressure” surrounding her decision about whether to run for the South Carolina seat, which her brother had held for over two decades.

“I have been praying a lot, talking to my family,” Graham said. “I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes. Absolutely.”

Graham was sworn in July 14 after being appointed to the seat by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social encouraging her to run for a full, six-year term.

“I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey. Darline, who comes from an absolutely incredible family, has been a WINNER all of her life and, should she accept, has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump wrote.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) endorsed Graham on Monday.

“Darline Graham is an excellent senator,” he said. “She’ll continue to be an excellent senator, and she has my full support as she runs to fill the six-year term of Lindsey Graham.”

However, some are staying out of the race for the time being. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) declined to endorse in the race, but added that Graham is a “strong candidate.”

“Sounds like the field is taking shape and we’ll let the voters in South Carolina decide it,” Thune said. “She obviously carries on Lindsey’s legacy, but I think she’s a very accomplished person in her own right.”

“I’m not endorsing anybody at the moment,” he added.

Rep. Russell Fry (R-South Carolina) also jumped into the race Monday, while Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) announced that she will not be running.

“I want to be straight with you,” Mace said in a minute-long video posted to YouTube. “I’m not running for the U.S. Senate. Not because I’m backing down from a fight, but because the one I’m already in matters right now. The laws meant to protect me and other women failed us. And I won’t stop until that changes.”

Mace spoke on the House floor last year alleging assault by her ex-fiance and three men, all of whom denied wrongdoing. She also introduced a resolution to force the House Ethics Committee to preserve and publicly release records of all congressional sexual harassment investigations. The House ultimately voted against the resolution.

“The victims deserved better,” Mace said in a statement at the time. “The American people deserved better. Every Member who voted to keep these records buried voted to protect power over people. We won’t let it go and neither should you.”

This story has been updated with comments from Trump, Thune and Mace.