Lindsey Graham’s sister confirms she is running for his Senate seat after Trump endorsement
Darline Graham announced Monday that she will run for a full six-year term in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat, moving forward with a bid that comes after President Donald Trump encouraged her to enter the race and offered his backing. The political newcomer made the declaration in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, stating simply, “I’m in.”
Graham was appointed just last week by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to serve out the remainder of her late brother Senator Lindsey Graham’s term, which expires in January 2027. The appointment came following Lindsey Graham’s sudden death on July 11 at age 71. According to preliminary findings from the Washington, D.C. medical examiner, he died from an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The senator had returned from a trip to Ukraine hours before his death.
Graham acknowledged the weight of her decision, saying she had been praying and consulting with her family before making up her mind. “I’ve been praying a lot, talking to my family, but with the love of my family, with the support of his staff — I know I’m a hard worker, I learned that from Lindsey,” she explained during the interview. She also noted the significant pressure that came with the rapid timeline, including Trump’s public endorsement and a filing deadline looming just days after her announcement.
Trump’s role in her decision proved decisive. On Friday, the president publicly endorsed Darline Graham in a Truth Social post, saying she had his “Complete and Total Endorsement” and encouraging her to run. “There would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey,” Trump wrote, adding “RUN, DARLINE, RUN!” Trump reportedly met with Graham at the White House earlier in the week to personally urge her to enter the race.
The endorsement carries significant weight in South Carolina Republican politics. According to available data, 97 percent of candidates endorsed by Trump in 2026 primaries won their races as of early July. However, Trump’s backing has not discouraged other Republican candidates from entering the field. Rep. Russell Fry announced Monday that he would run, while Rep. Ralph Norman entered the race earlier in the week. Other potential candidates include businessman Mark Lynch, who lost the June primary to Lindsey Graham, and attorney Duke Buckner.
Darline Graham has never held elected office, which some Republicans have noted as a potential vulnerability. Her career has centered on disability services and workforce development. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. For nearly 28 years, she worked to improve employment opportunities and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities across South Carolina. Most recently, she served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, a role she held for nearly seven years.
Despite her lack of political experience, she has gained recognition from advocacy groups working in disability services. David Houck, executive director of the Federation Center of the Blind, praised her work, saying “She has a great deal of experience from her background and I know the blind in South Carolina support her.”
The special primary election is scheduled for August 11, with a filing window that opened Tuesday and closes July 28. If no candidate receives a simple majority of votes in the primary, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff election set for August 25. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the November general election.
The rapid timeline presents challenges for all candidates. The primary is taking place just weeks after Lindsey Graham’s death, compressed from what would have been a normal campaign cycle. Darline Graham’s candidacy surprised some South Carolina Republicans who understood her appointment as a placeholder to serve only through January.
Multiple Senate Republican leaders have quickly endorsed her bid. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming, Conference Chair Tom Cotton of Arkansas, and Policy Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia have all backed her campaign. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he was not endorsing her at this time, noting that Trump’s endorsement made his own support potentially less helpful to candidates in the primary.
Graham became South Carolina’s first female U.S. senator upon her appointment, following her brother’s death. The two siblings were notably close, having lost both parents while they were young. Lindsey Graham later adopted Darline when she was 13. Throughout his long political career, Lindsey Graham frequently spoke about how his sister’s wellbeing mattered to him, and the two remained connected as he rose through the ranks of the Senate during his 24 years in office.
Memorial services for Senator Lindsey Graham are scheduled for July 28 in Washington, D.C., and July 29 in South Carolina.