Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced on Monday, July 20th, 2026, that he will not endorse any primary candidate in the race to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for a full term. Thune, who along with other Republican Senate leaders typically supports GOP Senate candidates, stated, “I’m not endorsing at the moment.”

Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, was sworn in last week to serve the remainder of the term and declared her intention to run for the full term. Her decision followed a social media post from former President Trump, who said he had encouraged her to run. Despite concerns about her political experience, Thune described her as "a strong candidate" and noted, “I mean, I think she’s, obviously carries on Lindsey’s legacy, but I think she’s a very accomplished person in her own right.”

Thune also acknowledged that several candidates are moving forward with campaigns, including Russell Fry (R-S.C.) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who have announced runs or expressed interest in the seat.

Sources