Senator Darline Graham Nordone Announces Senate Run

Senator Darline Graham Nordone announced on Monday, July 20, 2026, that she will seek a full six-year term in the U.S. Senate, aiming to succeed her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham. The newly appointed senator made the declaration in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, stating, "I've made a decision. I'm in."

Graham Nordone was sworn into the Senate on July 14, appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to complete her brother's term, which ends in early January. Her decision to run for a full term adds a significant new contender to a rapidly unfolding special election process triggered by Lindsey Graham's sudden death on July 11 at age 71. A preliminary medical report cited the cause as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

The announcement follows public encouragement from former President Donald Trump, who last week offered his "Complete and Total Endorsement" and urged her to run. In a social media post, Trump said he asked her, "for the Good of our Nation," to enter the race during a recent Oval Office visit.

The filing period for the special Republican primary opens on Tuesday, July 21, and closes on July 28. The...