Trump Urges Darline Graham to Run for Full Senate Term as Funeral Scheduled for Lindsey Graham/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump said Friday that Darline Graham, the sister of the late Lindsey Graham, has his support to run for a full term to replace her brother in the U.S. Senate./ Sen. Darline Graham is considering running for a full Senate term after being appointed to temporarily replace her late brother, Lindsey Graham. She has begun private discussions about a possible campaign, including conversations with the White House, according to people familiar with the deliberations. Funeral services for Lindsey Graham are scheduled for July 28 in Washington and July 29 in South Carolina.
Quick Look
- Darline Graham is privately considering a campaign for a full US Senate term.
- Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to complete her brother’s term through January.
- She has discussed a potential candidacy with the White House.
- It remains unclear whether President Donald Trump would support her campaign.
- Trump has previously suggested he could back Rep. Russell Fry.
- Other potential candidates include Nancy Mace, Ralph Norman and Pamela Evette.
- Candidate filing will run from July 21 through July 28.
- The special Republican primary is scheduled for Aug. 11.
- Lindsey Graham’s Washington funeral service will take place July 28.
- Additional funeral services will be held in South Carolina on July 29.
- Lindsey Graham died Saturday at age 71 after suffering a tear in his aorta, according to a preliminary medical examiner’s report.
- Federal rules would allow his campaign to transfer only $2,000 directly to his sister’s campaign.
- His campaign could transfer unlimited funds to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Deep Look
Darline Graham Considers Full Senate Campaign
COLUMBIA, S.C. — President Donald Trump said Friday that Darline Graham, the sister of the late Lindsey Graham, has his support to run for a full term to replace her brother in the U.S. Senate. He wrote on social media that she “has been a WINNER all of her life and, should she accept, has my Complete and Total Endorsement.”
“RUN, DARLINE, RUN!” Trump added.
The president said he had discussed a potential campaign with Darline Graham at the White House. Four people familiar with the deliberations, none of whom were authorized to speak publicly, had previously said that she privately expressed interest in running.
Trump’s endorsement dramatically reshapes the scramble to fill Lindsey Graham’s seat after he died last weekend. The president had previously suggested he could back a potential candidacy from Rep. Russell Fry. Several other noteworthy politicians — including Fry, Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette — have been eyeing a run.
The filing period for a special primary runs from July 21 to July 28, and the primary is scheduled for Aug. 11.
Sen. Darline Graham has privately expressed interest in seeking a full US Senate term after being appointed as the temporary successor to her late brother, Lindsey Graham, according to four people familiar with the discussions.
The people were not authorized to discuss the deliberations publicly. They said Darline Graham has begun holding conversations about launching a campaign.
Two of the people said she has also been speaking with the White House.
Her candidacy could significantly reshape the developing Republican contest for the South Carolina seat following Lindsey Graham’s death last weekend.
Trump’s Potential Endorsement Remains Unclear
President Donald Trump supported the idea of Darline Graham temporarily filling her brother’s seat, but it is unclear whether he would endorse her bid for a full term.
Trump previously indicated that he could support Rep. Russell Fry if the congressman enters the race.
The president’s endorsement could have a major influence on the Republican primary in a state where he maintains strong support among the party’s voters.
Darline Graham’s campaign discussions were first reported by Semafor.
Lindsey Graham Funeral Services Announced
Plans for Lindsey Graham’s funeral were announced Friday.
The longtime Republican senator died Saturday at age 71. A preliminary report from the medical examiner said he suffered a tear in his aorta.
Graham never married or had children. His sister frequently appeared alongside him during important moments in his political career, including at campaign events and in advertisements.
Crowded Republican Primary Takes Shape
The filing period for the special election primary begins July 21 and ends July 28.
The primary is scheduled for Aug. 11, giving potential candidates a limited period to organize campaigns, raise money and introduce themselves to voters across South Carolina.
Several prominent Republicans are considering entering the race.
They include Fry, Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
Darline Graham’s entrance could complicate the contest because of her family name, her temporary incumbency and her connection to her brother’s political organization.
McMaster Appointed Graham Through January
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to serve the remainder of Lindsey Graham’s term, which expires in January.
The appointment made her the first woman to represent South Carolina in the US Senate.
Darline Graham described the appointment as “such an honor,” while dozens of her brother’s former staff members and campaign advisers stood behind her during the announcement.
“Lindsey has always been there for me. And now, I will be there for him,” she said.
McMaster did not publicly describe the appointment as symbolic or say that Darline Graham would serve only as a placeholder.
However, a person familiar with the governor’s thinking said McMaster had not anticipated that she would seek the seat herself when he selected her.
The person was not authorized to discuss the governor’s deliberations publicly.
Tim Scott Praises Darline Graham’s Start
Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina’s other Republican senator, said he would not formally endorse a candidate in the primary.
Scott also serves as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is responsible for helping Republicans elect candidates to the Senate.
He left open the possibility of expressing a personal preference as a South Carolina voter.
“As Tim Scott, the voter of South Carolina, I might indeed wade into the water at some point,” Scott said.
Scott also praised Darline Graham’s early performance in the Senate.
“I think the truth of the matter is that Darline has so far been off to a remarkable start,” Scott told reporters when asked about her possible candidacy. “‘Why not her?’ would be my question.”
Campaign Funds Could Influence Senate Race
Lindsey Graham had millions of dollars remaining in his campaign account when he died and had been expected to raise considerably more before the general election.
Darline Graham could not directly inherit or access most of that money for her own campaign, according to Bradley A. Smith, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission.
The campaign could, however, transfer an unlimited amount to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
A recent Supreme Court decision allows the committee to “spend an unlimited amount in coordination with Darline’s campaign,” Smith said.
“It can’t be earmarked for Darline’s campaign, but in those circumstances I’m sure that the party will make sure she’s not short of cash,” said Smith, now a professor at Capital University Law School in Ohio.
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