President Donald Trump on Friday endorsed Darline Graham Nordone to succeed her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), even though she has yet to announce whether she’ll run in next month’s special Republican primary.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said he asked Nordone to run in the August 11 special GOP primary.
“I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey,” Trump said. “Darline, who comes from an absolutely incredible family, has been a WINNER all of her life and, should she accept, has my Complete and Total Endorsement in the Special Election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.
“RUN, DARLINE, RUN!”
As of Friday afternoon, Graham has not formally launched or committed to running for her brother’s seat.
The preemptive endorsement follows reports that Nordone, who was sworn into office earlier this week, has privately expressed interest in running for the seat and has talked to multiple people about launching a campaign.
Last weekend, Graham unexpectedly died at his Capitol Hill home in what the medical examiner’s office believes to be an aortic dissection. The life-threatening condition is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Before collapsing, Graham reportedly told a staffer he was experiencing chest pain.
Memorial services for Graham will be held in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina on July 28 and 29 after funeral plans were delayed to accommodate foreign dignitaries, a staffer revealed on Friday.
In June, Graham overwhelmingly won his Republican primary. His sudden death upended the race, forcing GOP leaders to quickly find a candidate to replace him on the ballot. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Reps. Russell Fry, Nancy Mace, and Ralph Norman are among the other prominent Republicans considering a run.
“She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot,” Trump said about Nordone. “Lindsey was one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, and his sister shares his deep love of our Country, and the State of South Carolina.”
The Cook Political Report ranks the seat as solid Republican going into November.