{"id":9110,"date":"2026-07-18T01:20:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=9110"},"modified":"2026-07-18T01:20:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:20:50","slug":"trump-backs-sen-darline-graham-nordone-in-primary-to-replace-her-late-brother","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=9110","title":{"rendered":"Trump backs Sen. Darline Graham Nordone in primary to replace her late brother"},"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 xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p id=\"anchor-b169b3\" class=\"body-graf\">President Donald Trump endorsed Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, R-S.C., in the special election to fill her late brother\u2019s Senate seat for a full term <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116936914779266256\" target=\"_blank\">in a post<\/a> on Truth Social Friday.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Subscribe to read this story ad-free<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-1d4bb8\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cI asked Darline, for the Good of our Nation, to run for the U.S. Senate in the Special Republican Primary on Tuesday, August 11, 2026,\u201d Trump wrote. \u201cI hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-d42c35\" class=\"body-graf\">The president added later in his post that Graham Nordone has his \u201ccomplete and total endorsement.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"inline-video inline-video--in-body\" data-testid=\"inline-video\" id=\"anchor-6bb9d8\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__background\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__player\">\n<div class=\"styles_gridStackWrapper__Z_AMc styles_videoContainer___xc7B video-container paused\" data-testid=\"gamma-video-player\">\n<div class=\"styles_gridStackWrapper__Z_AMc videoSlate styles_videoSlate__IvkAP\"><picture class=\"\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"focal\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1240px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-860x484,f_auto,q_auto:best\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_07\/1783974864663_f_mo_mcmaster_graham_nordone_senate_260713_S3_1920x1080-vmsgvy.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 758px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-1000x563,f_auto,q_auto:best\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_07\/1783974864663_f_mo_mcmaster_graham_nordone_senate_260713_S3_1920x1080-vmsgvy.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_07\/1783974864663_f_mo_mcmaster_graham_nordone_senate_260713_S3_1920x1080-vmsgvy.jpg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_07\/1783974864663_f_mo_mcmaster_graham_nordone_senate_260713_S3_1920x1080-vmsgvy.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p id=\"anchor-365336\" class=\"body-graf\">She was appointed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/congress\/darline-graham-sworn-senator-fill-brother-lindsey-grahams-seat-rcna587457\" target=\"_blank\">earlier this week<\/a> by South Carolina GOP Gov. Henry McMaster to serve out the rest of Sen. Lindsey Graham\u2019s term in the Senate, through early January.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-5f1ecc\" class=\"body-graf\">After she was sworn in on Tuesday, Sen. Darline Graham Nordone became South Carolina\u2019s first female senator. She and her late brother often spoke about their close relationship, which included Lindsey Graham adopting his younger sister when she was 13, shortly after both of their parents died.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b8b82e\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cI don\u2019t know what I would have done without him,\u201d she told Fox News in a joint interview in 2015.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-a6d960\" class=\"body-graf\">The late senator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/politics-news\/sen-lindsey-graham-dies-71-brief-sudden-illness-rcna552722\" target=\"_blank\">died suddenly<\/a> on Saturday night, triggering a Senate vacancy and a special election. He had been in the midst of a reelection campaign and had been selected by GOP voters in his state <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-election\/sen-lindsey-graham-wins-gop-primary-defeating-wealthy-challenger-south-rcna348697\" target=\"_blank\">as the Republican nominee for Senate<\/a> in June, setting him up for a general election to a potential fifth term in November.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-c0f24b\" class=\"body-graf\">Per South Carolina state law, GOP candidates wishing to run in Graham\u2019s place can begin to file their intention to do so on July 21 and the special primary election will be held on Aug. 11. Graham\u2019s sudden death <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-election\/scramble-replacement-lindsey-graham-midterm-election-senate-seat-rcna552739\" target=\"_blank\">set up a scramble last weekend<\/a> among Republicans in the state as they searched for a potential candidate.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-96c7d3\" class=\"body-graf\">On Wednesday, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said the newly sworn in Graham Nordone was \u201coff to a remarkable start\u201d in the Senate and said, \u201cWhy not her?\u201d when asked whether she\u2019d consider running for a full term.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-770b71\" class=\"body-graf\">Several other South Carolina GOP political figures who had been floated as potential candidates in the race to replace Lindsey Graham had been Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-11dd01\" class=\"endmark body-graf\">Businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to Graham in the June primary, on Monday said he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyff4.com\/article\/mark-lynch-revives-senate-campaign-graham-death\/71922488\" target=\"_blank\">planned to revive<\/a> his Senate campaign in the wake of the senator\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Donald Trump endorsed Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, R-S.C., in the special election to fill her late brother\u2019s Senate seat for a full term in a post on Truth Social Friday. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. \u201cI asked Darline, for the Good of our Nation,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260714-Darline-Graham-Nordone-sworn-in-vl-336p-68725b.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9110","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=9110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9110\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}