Darline Graham, the interim senator for South Carolina and sister of the late Lindsey Graham, has announced her intention to run for a full six-year term in the U.S. Senate. She made the announcement following an endorsement from former President Donald Trump last week.

Graham, 62, who was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to complete the remainder of her brother's term, made history as the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate when sworn in last week. In an upcoming interview with Sean Hannity, set to air on Monday, Graham confirmed she had "made a decision" to run.

Her brother, Lindsey Graham, passed away earlier this month at age 71 after what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness." The chief medical examiner preliminarily ruled his death was due to aortic dissection caused by cardiovascular disease.

On Friday, Trump publicly encouraged Darline Graham to seek a full Senate term, stating on Truth Social that he asked her "for the Good of our Nation" to run in the Special Republican Primary. He praised her as coming from an "absolutely incredible family" and called her a "WINNER all of her life," offering his "Complete and Total Endorsement."

Because Lindsey Graham had won the Republican nomination last month before his passing, South Carolina will hold a special primary on August 11, 2026, to select a candidate to replace him on the ballot.

Sources