Darline Graham is officially running to keep the South Carolina Senate seat that her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, held for more than 20 years.
“I’ve made a decision,” Graham told Fox News on Monday. “I’m in.”
The announcement comes just days after Graham was sworn into the Senate following her appointment by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to complete the remainder of her brother’s term, which ends in early January. Lindsey Graham died on July 11.
Before his death, the longtime senator had already secured the Republican nomination in June for what would have been his fifth full Senate term. His passing triggered a special Republican primary to determine the GOP nominee for the November election.
Republican candidates can file for the race between July 21 and July 28, with the special primary set for Aug. 11. The winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November.
Graham, 62, has never held elected office. She spent much of her career working in disability services and most recently served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
When she accepted McMaster’s appointment last week, Graham said serving out her brother’s term “is what Lindsey would have wanted,” adding that she planned to “honor him in this way.”
Her campaign immediately received a major boost from President Donald Trump, who publicly urged her to seek a full six-year term after meeting with her at the White House.
“I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey,” Trump said.
Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Graham said the decision came after extensive conversations with her family and time spent in prayer.
“I have been praying a lot, talking to my family.”
“I know I’m a hard worker. I learned that from Lindsey,” she said. “I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes. Absolutely.”
Despite Trump’s endorsement, Graham is expected to face a competitive Republican primary.
Rep. Ralph Norman, who has represented South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District since 2017, announced his Senate campaign on Saturday. Rep. Russell Fry, first elected to Congress in 2022, entered the race Monday.
RELATED: Longtime GOP Congressman Enters Primary Race To Replace Lindsey Graham
If no Republican candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in the Aug. 11 special primary, the top two finishers will advance to an Aug. 25 runoff.
The winner of the GOP contest will take on Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November for the chance to serve a full six-year Senate term representing South Carolina.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
