{"id":20597,"date":"2026-07-29T04:54:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T23:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=20597"},"modified":"2026-07-29T04:54:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T23:54:46","slug":"trump-endorsement-fails-to-clear-field-for-lindsey-grahams-sister-as-11-other-republicans-enter-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=20597","title":{"rendered":"Trump Endorsement Fails to Clear Field for Lindsey Graham\u2019s Sister as 11 Other Republicans Enter Race"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5713183\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5713183\" class=\"wp-image-5713183 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/am11.mediaite.com\/med\/cnt\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26069827247738.jpg\" alt=\"Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5713183\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sipa via AP Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> has endorsed Sen.<strong> Darline Graham Nordone<\/strong>\u00a0(R-SC) to run for re-election to her late brother&#8217;s Senate seat, but that hasn&#8217;t dissuaded eleven other Republican contenders from throwing their hats in the ring.<\/p>\n<p>Graham, 71, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/politics\/lindsey-graham-dead-at-71\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">passed away<\/a> unexpectedly on July 11. The siblings were close, as Lindsey Graham had become her\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/politics\/archive\/2014\/06\/how-lindsey-graham-stomped-the-tea-party\/372521\/?single_page=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">legal guardian<\/a> after both of their parents died within 15 months of each other when his younger sister was only 13 years old.<\/p>\n<p>Under South Carolina law, Gov. <strong>Henry McMaster<\/strong> (R) had the power to appoint someone to finish Graham\u2019s term, and both Trump and Sen. <strong>Tim Scott<\/strong> (R-SC) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/trump-announces-his-wonderful-pick-to-succeed-lindsey-graham\/\">urged the governor<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/politics\/this-is-what-lindsey-would-have-wanted-grahams-sister-emotionally-accepts-appointment-to-finish-his-term\/\">choose the senator\u2019s sister<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Darline Graham (this is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dgraham.senate.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the name she has been using<\/a> on official Senate communications) was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/trump-endorses-lindsey-grahams-sister-to-run-for-his-seat-for-the-good-of-our-nation\/\">sworn into office<\/a> on July 14. Her appointment to the seat allows her finish the remainder of her brother&#8217;s term, through January, but does not affect this year&#8217;s election. Trump soon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/trump-endorses-lindsey-grahams-sister-to-run-for-his-seat-for-the-good-of-our-nation\/\">declared<\/a> he was encouraging her to run for the seat and posted a &#8220;Complete and Total Endorsement&#8221; for her on his Truth Social account.<\/p>\n<p>Most political observers felt that Graham&#8217;s chances of winning the election got <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/up-like-a-rocket-cnn-data-guru-says-lindsey-grahams-sister-is-now-clear-favorite-to-win-primary\/\">a major bump<\/a> after Trump&#8217;s endorsement, but she is still a political rookie and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/politics\/birthright-senatorship-is-idiotic-maga-fumes-at-lindsey-grahams-sister-running-for-full-term\/\">an unknown quantity<\/a> for the Republican base.<\/p>\n<p>Lindsey Graham had easily won his primary back in June, before his death, and now South Carolina Republicans will be &#8220;launching into a two-week sprint toward the Aug. 11 special GOP primary,&#8221; the AP&#8217;s national politics reporter <strong>Meg Kinnard<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/south-carolina-senate-graham-republicans-primary-8fb92d9ee297552a5e806ee3cdcebbd2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The filing deadline to run for the South Carolina Senate seat closed on Tuesday, the day of Lindsey Graham&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/trump-jokes-about-giving-out-lindsey-grahams-phone-number-during-savage-gop-primary\/\">memorial service<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Darline Graham and eleven other Republicans had filed to run, Kinnard reported, including Rep. <strong>Ralph Norman<\/strong> (R-SC), Rep. <strong>Russell<\/strong> <strong>Fry<\/strong> (R-SC), former South Carolina congressman and governor <strong>Mark Sanford<\/strong>, and several other candidates, some of whom Kinnard noted their colorful biographies:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u2014 Mark Lynch, a Greenville businessman who tried to oust Graham in the regular Republican primary last month, swiftly relaunched his campaign following Graham\u2019s death. He\u2019s expected to put much of his own money into his Senate run.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Duke Buckner, a Walterboro attorney who is a perennial candidate. He has challenged U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, South Carolina\u2019s lone congressional Democrat. Buckner also is a former public school English teacher.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Danny Ford II, a farmer from the town of Central and son of former Clemson University football coach Danny Ford. He ran unsuccessfully earlier this year for the Republican nomination for South Carolina agriculture secretary, making it to the runoff before losing to the Trump-endorsed candidate.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mark McBride, the former mayor of Myrtle Beach. He unsuccessfully sought federal office before, including a 2004 Senate primary loss to former Republican Sen. Jim DeMint. McBride also lost to Fry in the 2022 GOP primary for the 7th Congressional District.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Darius Mitchell, a resident of Columbia, who calls himself a \u201cHip Hop Republican.\u201d In social media posts, he has voiced support for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.<br \/>\n\u2014 Clark Neilson, a businessman in Charlotte, North Carolina, who has said he plans to build a home on land he owns in Charleston County. He said he\u2019s in the process of becoming a South Carolina resident.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Glenda Gail Parker, retired Air Force officer who recently moved to Myrtle Beach. She calls herself a conservative independent who leans Republican. She supports high-speed rail and a strong military.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sam Shepherd, a biomedical engineer and entrepreneur. He lives in Lexington County and has said he is focusing his campaign on cutting taxes and federal spending.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>On the Democratic side, <strong>Annie Andrews<\/strong>, a Charleston pediatrician, won her primary. She <a href=\"https:\/\/19thnews.org\/2026\/07\/annie-andrews-south-carolina-senate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">had been targeting<\/a> her campaign messaging to fighting an underdog battle against Lindsey Graham; one <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AnnieAndrewsMD\/status\/2056825168723320865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2056825168723320865%7Ctwgr%5E8fcf0c27d821cc1e70fbaeab686258de515aebc3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediaite.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D5746267action%3Dedit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">video ad<\/a> she shared on social media featured her bashing the incumbent as a &#8220;swamp creature,&#8221; &#8220;warmonger,&#8221; and &#8220;bootlicker.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A week ago, Andrews shared a poll she said showed her within the margin of error of the Republicans who were expected to enter the race.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF;border: 0;border-radius: 3px;margin: 1px;max-width: 540px;min-width: 326px;padding: 0;width: calc(100% - 2px)\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbGVaEmyFLs\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px\">\n<div style=\"display: flex;flex-direction: row;align-items: center\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 40px;margin-right: 14px;width: 40px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex;flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 100px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 60px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block;height: 50px;margin: 0 auto 12px;width: 50px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: 550;line-height: 18px\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex;flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px;flex-grow: 0;margin-right: 14px;margin-left: 2px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 20px;width: 20px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 2px solid transparent;border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom: 2px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex;flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center;margin-bottom: 24px\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 224px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 144px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;line-height: 17px;margin-bottom: 0;margin-top: 8px;overflow: hidden;padding: 8px 0 7px;text-align: center;white-space: nowrap\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: normal;line-height: 17px;text-decoration: none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbGVaEmyFLs\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Dr. Annie Andrews (@annieandrewsmd)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\n&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/politics\/trump-endorsement-fails-to-clear-field-for-lindsey-grahams-sister-as-11-other-republicans-enter-race\/\">Trump Endorsement Fails to Clear Field for Lindsey Graham\u2019s Sister as 11 Other Republicans Enter Race<\/a> first appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\">Mediaite<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sipa via AP Images President Donald Trump has endorsed Sen. Darline Graham Nordone\u00a0(R-SC) to run for re-election to her late brother&#8217;s Senate seat, but that hasn&#8217;t dissuaded eleven other Republican contenders from throwing their hats in the ring. Graham, 71, passed away unexpectedly on July 11. The siblings were close, as Lindsey Graham had become&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20598,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/am11.mediaite.com\/med\/cnt\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26069827247738.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20597"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20597\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}