Donald Trump threw his weight behind Darline Graham on Friday, urging the recently appointed South Carolina senator to seek a full six-year term following her brother Lindsey Graham's sudden death last weekend.
Trump said he had spoken with Graham at the White House and pressed her to enter the special Republican primary. In a Truth Social post, he described her as a lifelong winner from an incredible family and pledged his complete endorsement if she decides to run.
"I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey," Trump wrote, adding in all caps: "RUN, DARLINE, RUN!"
Darline Graham was sworn in this week after being appointed to fill the seat by South Carolina's Republican governor, Henry McMaster. She previously worked as a commissioner for the state's commission for the blind and had never held elected office, though she attended campaign events with her brother.
Lindsey Graham, who had represented South Carolina since 2003, died at age 71 from what the District of Columbia medical examiner preliminarily determined was an aortic dissection. His funeral arrangements include a service in Washington on July 28 and two additional services in South Carolina on July 29.
The longtime senator was a prominent foreign policy hawk known for diplomatic negotiations that produced both bipartisan breakthroughs and impasses. He had criticized Trump during his own failed presidential bid in 2016 but later became one of Trump's closest Senate allies.
Graham was running for a fifth term in deep-red South Carolina and won his primary last month before his death. The special primary to replace him on the ballot is scheduled for August 11. The Republican nominee will face Democratic candidate Annie Andrews in the general election.
Trump's endorsement injects significant momentum into a race that had already attracted interest from multiple Republican elected officials across the state. A spokesman for Darline Graham did not respond to a request for comment on her plans.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's push for Graham's sister is a calculated move to maintain his grip on South Carolina politics, but it remains unclear whether she'll actually step up."
Comments