Darline Graham, who was appointed interim senator by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster following her brother’s death, indicated her intention to seek a full six-year term in the chamber. In an interview with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity scheduled to air in full on Monday, Graham stated simply that she had made a decision and was running.
Graham, 62, made history when she was sworn in as the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate. Her brother, Lindsey Graham, died earlier this month at age 71 following what his office characterized as a brief and sudden illness. The state’s chief medical examiner preliminarily determined that he died of aortic dissection resulting from cardiovascular disease.
Former President Donald Trump weighed in on Graham’s potential candidacy on Friday, announcing that he had encouraged her to run. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that he had asked Graham to run in the special Republican primary “for the Good of our Nation” and offered his complete endorsement, describing her as coming from an “incredible family” and being a “WINNER” throughout her life.
Since Lindsey Graham secured the Republican nomination last month before his death, South Carolina will hold a special primary to determine his replacement on the ballot. That primary election is scheduled for August 11.