Trump asks Lindsey Graham&x27;s sister to run in special SC Senate GOP primary Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAYFri, July 17, 2026 at 8:21 PM UTC 6 President Donald Trump said he&x27;d asked Darline Graham, the sister of the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, to run for her brother&x27;s Senate seat in South Carolina&x27;s special Republican primary Aug. 11. Graham was sworn in July 14 to serve the remainder of her brother&x27;s Senate term after he died from a sudden illness last week. South Carolina&x27;s governor named her to fill the seat three days after Graham&x27;s death July 11.
Trump asks Lindsey Graham's sister to run in special SC Senate GOP primary
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAYFri, July 17, 2026 at 8:21 PM UTC
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President Donald Trump said he'd asked Darline Graham, the sister of the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, to run for her brother's Senate seat in South Carolina's special Republican primary Aug. 11.
Graham was sworn in July 14 to serve the remainder of her brother's Senate term after he died from a sudden illness last week. South Carolina's governor named her to fill the seat three days after Graham's death July 11.
In a Truth Social post July 17, Trump said he had met Graham in the Oval Office and asked her to run in the special primary.
"We have known each other for a long time — She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot. Lindsey was one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, and his sister shares his deep love of our Country, and the State of South Carolina," he wrote.
"I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey," Trump said in the post. "Darline, who comes from an absolutely incredible family, has been a WINNER all of her life and, should she accept, has my Complete and Total Endorsement in the Special Election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN. RUN, DARLINE, RUN!"
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South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham as the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate on July 13 after her 71-year-old brother died suddenly from a ruptured aorta.
Several names have been in circulation for the special GOP primary to replace Graham as their nominee, including Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, both of whom ran unsuccessfully for governor earlier this year, and Rep. Russell Fry, who represents South Carolina's 7th congressional district. Former Rep. Trey Gowdy and current Rep. William Timmons have also been mentioned.
Graham, whose current career involves helping people with disabilities, doesn’t have any political experience. However, she said she would lean on her brother's colleagues and staff to get the job done.
"It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work," she said during a July 13 press conference. "I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States."
Contributing: Terry Collins, Bella Carpentier
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump asks Lindsey Graham's sister to run for Senate in SC primary
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Published: July 17, 2026 at 07:54PM on Source: PRIME TIME
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