{"id":5494,"date":"2026-07-14T02:02:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T21:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=5494"},"modified":"2026-07-14T02:02:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T21:02:14","slug":"the-unofficial-list-of-republicans-who-may-throw-their-hat-in-the-ring-to-replace-lindsey-graham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=5494","title":{"rendered":"The Unofficial List of Republicans Who May Throw Their Hat in the Ring to Replace Lindsey Graham"},"content":{"rendered":"<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\r\n<br><div id=\"article-content\">\n            \n\n\n\n\n<p>Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died Saturday evening from a <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/news\/lindsey-graham-longtime-south-carolina-senator-dies-from-brief-and-sudden-illness\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cbrief and sudden illness\u201d<\/a> at the age of 71. The longtime senator\u2019s unexpected death triggered a massive scramble for his now-open seat among various Republican characters in the South Carolina political scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<!-- \/wp:post-content -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here is how it will go: South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) appointed Graham\u2019s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily replace her brother in the Senate and serve out the rest of his current term. That term is set to end on Jan. 3, 2027 and the successor will be picked in the upcoming November election. There will be a special primary election \u2014 set for Aug. 11 with an Aug. 25 runoff, if needed \u2014 to determine the Republican candidate for the general election. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democratic candidate Annie Andrews in November for the general election. And the winner of the general election will serve a full six year term starting in January 2027.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here are some names in the running:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h2-9ea4723a-6af4-496c-bf1c-e176f870d6bd\"><strong>The One Who Would Be a \u2018Fabulous Tribute\u2019\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>South Carolina Gov. McMaster tapped Graham\u2019s sister, Graham Nordone, Monday afternoon to replace the longtime senator until his current term ends in Jan. 2027.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>That appointment came just hours after Trump chimed in on Monday, saying he recommends that McMaster appoint the late senator\u2019s sister to serve the remainder of his term.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham\u2019s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,\u201d Trump wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116913198631392475\" target=\"_blank\">Truth Social post<\/a> Monday morning. \u201cThis would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Though unlikely, Graham Nordone could choose to run for the upcoming six year term as well \u2014 if she has political aspirations or perhaps\u00a0 as a tribute to her late brother.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h2-844f7e32-672f-401e-a485-fc4ac11f7f7a\"><strong>The One Who Wanted to Declare \u2018Marshall Law!!\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) recently ran to be the Palmetto State\u2019s governor. He lost the bid, finishing third in the gubernatorial primary last month. Now he is reportedly eyeing a new campaign for Graham\u2019s Senate seat.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>He is certainly one of the more problematic characters on the list.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As you may remember, in January 2021, just days before Joe Biden\u2019s inauguration, Norman sent a text message to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows urging Trump to invoke martial law (or as he misspelled it \u201cMarshall Law\u201d) and block the certification of President Joe Biden\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cOur LAST HOPE is invoking Marshall Law!! PLEASE URGE TO PRESIDENT TO DO SO!!\u201d Norman wrote.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Norman <a href=\"https:\/\/news.bgov.com\/bloomberg-government-news\/ralph-norman-considering-run-for-lindsey-grahams-senate-seat\" target=\"_blank\">said<\/a> he spoke to Trump on Sunday and asked for his endorsement in the special primary. We\u2019ll see who Trump will actually decide to get behind. According to Norman, he responded to the congressman\u2019s request with \u201cgive me a week.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The South Carolina congressman is expected to make an official announcement on his intentions on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h2-c9516e41-9d99-4392-acfd-e2af9b7f5f50\"><strong>The One Who Really Wanted to Police Bathrooms<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is also eyeing Graham\u2019s seat. She made a not-so-cryptic social media post Sunday morning, hinting at her new ambition to try and be a senator.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cJust when I thought I was out\u2026 they pull me back in\u2026\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1AzRMPAEuc\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/1AzRMPAEuc<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NancyMace\/status\/2076301493284618708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\">July 12, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> \n<!-- \/wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Mace is reportedly planning to begin polling for her exploratory Senate bid this week, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/12\/nancy-mace-lindsey-graham-senate-seat-00994088\" target=\"_blank\">according to Politico<\/a>.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Just like Norman, Mace also ran in the competitive South Carolina gubernatorial primary race. She finished the Republican primary in fifth place last month, garnering about 12% of the vote. She conveniently blamed her loss on the fact that she was one of the handful of House Republicans who signed the discharge petition to force a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstrein files.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In case you were wondering how effective she would be as a senator \u2026 Mace spent the majority of the end of 2024 focusing on trying to control who can use which bathrooms on Capitol Hill and throughout the nation.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>She introduced a resolution to \u201cban transgender women from using biological women\u2019s restrooms at the U.S. Capitol.\u201d That was seemingly in response to Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, winning her state\u2019s sole House seat. A couple days later she introduced a bill to force trans individuals to use restrooms that align with the sex assigned to them at birth on any property that uses public funds.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Those efforts took a life of their own, as Mace incessantly posted about bathrooms for months. At one point she decided to take matters into her own hands (and, likely, to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepNancyMace\/status\/1858997448418496978\" target=\"_blank\">rile people up online<\/a>) and made a handmade sign that said\u201cBIOLOGICAL,\u201d which she stuck on top of a women\u2019s restroom sign at the Capitol building.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":1552074,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<div class=\"GalleryImageWrapper\"><h2 class=\"GalleryImageWrapper__Title\"\/><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1136\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mace-bathroom-sign.jpg?w=804\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1552074\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mace-bathroom-sign.jpg 1136w, https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mace-bathroom-sign.jpg?resize=768,811 768w, https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mace-bathroom-sign.jpg?resize=804,849 804w, https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mace-bathroom-sign.jpg?resize=600,634 600w, https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mace-bathroom-sign.jpg?resize=1000,1056 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1136px) 100vw, 1136px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) stands next to a sign she made for the bathroom. Credit: X.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Priorities, priorities \u2026<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h2-9149ee05-5254-4d83-9983-f222573bd408\"><strong>The One Who Already Has the Trump Stamp of Approval<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette is seen as another top option to replace Graham. She has been working side-by-side with McMaster for the past several years and she is a key figure in deep-red, conservative South Carolina politics.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Evette is another who was running to be the governor of South Carolina. Despite having both Trump and McMaster\u2019s endorsement, she lost the June 23 Republican primary runoff to State Attorney General Alan Wilson.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The lieutenant governor has been getting \u201ctons of encouragement\u201d to run for Graham\u2019s seat, but hasn\u2019t yet made up her mind, according to Politico.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h2-90d05627-813a-4f8e-887f-377f0bfae02a\"><strong>The One Who Golfs With Trump<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) appears to have been Sen. Tim Scott\u2019s (R-SC) top choice \u2014 even if it was briefly. Gowdy served in the House from 2011 to 2019.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Scott reportedly pitched now-Fox News host Gowdy (just what we need, another Fox personality in the federal government) for the position. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2026\/07\/13\/congress\/lindsey-graham-successor-trey-gowdy-tim-scott-00994446\" target=\"_blank\">Politico reported<\/a> Sunday that Scott made a round of calls pushing for Gowdy \u2014 who also is a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/foxnewsradio\/photos\/trey-gowdy-recalls-the-honor-of-golfing-with-president-trump-finnish-president-a\/1065363655620006\/\" target=\"_blank\"> known golf partner of Trump\u2019s<\/a> \u2014 as a possible short-term pick for the seat left vacant by Graham\u2019s death.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Though, since Trump\u2019s endorsement, Scott has <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WardDPatrick\/status\/2076689784408350961?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">reportedly<\/a> shifted his focus to Graham\u2019s sister.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It remains to be seen whether Gowdy will consider jumping into the race to replace Graham permanently.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h2-c100515f-a623-41e5-8643-859d587bf10f\"><strong>Other Names That Have Been Floated<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Mark Lynch, who challanged Graham during the 2026 Republican primary and lost, told <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews4.com\/news\/local\/who-will-replace-lindsey-graham-in-the-senate-south-carolina-governor-henry-mcmaster-president-donald-trump-nancy-mace-pamela-evette-annie-andrews?fbclid=IwY2xjawTB7_1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeUBgssuvPnYT8n6AxGctYxIzBXTEOIBOqAXB1ziYhh2x09GebT0B5ZOvwnVg_aem_HcO6NrcOc1NBmBalhTZuQg\" target=\"_blank\">a local ABC news affiliate<\/a> that he plans to run again for the Senate seat he already lost once this year.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC) was hand picked by Trump several years ago to oust another South Carolina congressman, former Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC). Rice lost to Fry in 2022 and has had Trump\u2019s support in the past. He could jump in the race.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Rep. William Timmons (R-SC) is also reportedly interested in running for Graham\u2019s seat. The four-term congressman is not a household name like some of the others, but his experience in Congress could come in handy.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->          <\/div><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    window.fbAsyncInit = function() {\n      FB.init({\n        appId: \"101800829865996\",\n        xfbml: true,\n        version: ' v2.6'\n      });\n      window.fbAsyncInit.__didInit = true;\n    };\n    (function(d, s, id) {\n      var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];\n      if (d.getElementById(id)) {\n        return;\n      }\n      js = d.createElement(s);\n      js.id = id;\n      js.src = \"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\";\n      fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n    }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));\n  <\/script>\r\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\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died Saturday evening from a \u201cbrief and sudden illness\u201d at the age of 71. The longtime senator\u2019s unexpected death triggered a massive scramble for his now-open seat among various Republican characters in the South Carolina political scene. Here is how it will go: South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) appointed Graham\u2019s&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/lindsey-graham-replacements.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5494","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=5494"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5494\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}