Darline Graham joins GOP primary for SC Senate seat

A competitive Republican primary is taking shape in South Carolina following the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, testing the influence of former President Donald Trump's endorsement in a crowded field. The race was officially joined on July 20 by Darline Graham, the late senator's sister, who was appointed to the seat last week by Governor Henry McMaster.

Graham announced her candidacy for a full six-year term, confirming she had received Trump's "complete and total" endorsement after a meeting at the White House. Her entry sets up a three-week sprint to a special primary election scheduled for August 11. A runoff will be held on August 25 if no candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote.

She will not run unopposed. Two sitting Republican congressmen, Representatives Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, have also launched campaigns. Fry, who entered the race on July 20, described himself as a "MAGA warrior" and pledged to be Trump's "strongest ally" in the Senate. Norman, who announced his bid over the weekend, emphasized his conservative record and support for Trump's legislative agenda. Businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to Lindsey Graham in a primary last month, is also...