WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Friday he had urged Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, to seek a full six-year term in the U.S. Senate, publicly endorsing her ahead of a rapidly approaching Republican special primary in South Carolina.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he asked Darline Graham to run in the Aug. 11 Republican special primary and pledged his "complete and total endorsement" if she enters the race. He said she would be well placed to continue her brother's legacy in the Senate.
Darline Graham was appointed earlier this week by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican, to fill the Senate seat until early January following the death of Lindsey Graham. She was sworn into office on Tuesday and has not formally announced whether she will compete for the full term.
Lindsey Graham, one of Trump's closest allies in the Senate after years of political cooperation, died last weekend from a heart condition caused by hardening of the arteries, according to his office. His death created a vacancy in a seat that was already scheduled to be contested in the November midterm elections.
The filing period for candidates is scheduled to run from July 21 through July 28, with the Republican special primary set for Aug. 11. If no candidate wins a majority of the vote, a runoff election would follow later in August, according to South Carolina election procedures.
Several prominent South Carolina Republicans, including U.S. Representatives Russell Fry, Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, as well as Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, have been identified by U.S. media as potential contenders, although not all have announced final decisions. Senator Tim Scott has said he will remain neutral in the nomination contest while praising Darline Graham's public service.
Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress heading into the November elections, increasing the political significance of the South Carolina race.
Memorial services for Lindsey Graham are scheduled for July 28 in Washington and July 29 in South Carolina, according to announcements released by his office.
