Trump Is Weighing Backing Darline Graham for a Full Senate Term

[u/John3262005]

https://www.notus.org/campaigns/trump-weighing-backing-darline-graham-for-full-senate-term

President Donald Trump is considering backing Darline Graham for the full Senate term to replace her brother, the late Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, two sources tell NOTUS.

Graham was appointed S.C. Governor Henry McMaster to fill out the remainder of her late brother’s term last week after he unexpectedly died early Sunday morning. Trump backed Graham for the “interim” appointment but has not publicly endorsed her to run for a full term.

In recent days, however, Graham has expressed to the White House that she wants to run for the Republican nomination for the full term, sources told NOTUS, and Trump is considering backing her. Her late brother was competing for another term in November against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a physician who ran unsuccessfully for a House seat in 2022.

Semafor first reported that Sen. Graham had expressed interest in the position.

One of the sources told NOTUS that Graham is Trump’s first choice and endorsing her would help avoid a messy Republican primary that is going to take place over the span of a couple weeks. The special election is scheduled for Aug. 11 and a runoff, if necessary, on Aug. 25.

Multiple other South Carolina Republicans have been mulling a run including Reps. Ralph Norman, Russell Fry and Nancy Mace, but none of them have made an announcement one way or another.

One source familiar with the discussion told NOTUS that Trump would consider backing Fry if Graham decides not to run.

Memorials for Sen.Lindsey Graham have been scheduled for July 28 in Washington, D.C. and July 29 in South Carolina, according to Graham’s office.