Former President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed South Carolina Senator Darline Graham in the special Republican primary to fill the Senate seat vacated by her late brother, Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly on the night of Saturday, July 12, 2026.

In a post on Truth Social on Friday, July 17, Trump wrote, “I 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. I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey.” He added that she has his “complete and total endorsement.”

Darline Graham and her late brother shared a close relationship; Lindsey Graham adopted her when she was 13, shortly after both of their parents passed away. Reflecting on their bond, she told Fox News in a 2015 interview, “I don’t know what I would have done without him.”

Following Lindsey Graham's death, a Senate vacancy was created, prompting a special election. According to South Carolina law, GOP candidates can begin filing their intention to run on July 21, 2026, ahead of the August 11 special primary election.

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina praised Darline Graham’s early performance in the Senate, describing her as “off to a remarkable start” and responded to questions about her running for a full term with, “Why not her?”

Businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to Lindsey Graham in the June primary, announced plans to revive his Senate campaign following the senator’s passing.

Sources