Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, says she'll run for full Senate term

Darline Graham, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, announced Monday she will run for a full term in the Senate, seeking to represent South Carolina. Graham is currently serving out her brother's remaining term after South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to the seat last week. Her brother held the position for over two decades before his death on July 11. He had secured the GOP nomination in June for what would have been his fifth term. A special primary election will now determine the Republican candidate. Republicans can file for the Senate seat between July 21 and July 28, with a primary election scheduled for Aug. 11 to decide who will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November. Graham, 62, previously worked in disabilities services and served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. She stated upon accepting the appointment that finishing her brother's term was "what Lindsey would have wanted." President Trump publicly backed Graham's bid for the six-year term, writing on Truth Social after a White House meeting that she would have his "Complete and Total Endorsement." He expressed hope that Graham would run to "honor the legacy of her beloved brother." In an interview, Graham shared that she has been praying and consulting with her 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 the president's endorsement, other Republicans are also vying for the seat. Rep. Ralph Norman, who has represented South Carolina in the House since 2017, announced his candidacy on Saturday. Rep. Russell Fry, elected to the House in 2022, also announced his candidacy on Monday. If no candidate secures a majority in the special primary, a runoff election will occur on Aug. 25.

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I've made a decision. I'm in.