President Trump encourages Sen. Darline Graham to seek full, 6-year term

President Donald Trump took to social media Friday to urge the newly sworn-in Sen. Darline Graham, sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, to run next month for a full term.

“I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey. 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!” the president wrote Friday on Truth Social, the social media platform he founded.

The sudden death of Lindsey Graham over the weekend triggered an Aug. 11 special Republican primary to replace him as the nominee in November.

It marks the first open U.S. Senate contest in South Carolina in 22 years.

Trump’s encouragement comes four days before candidates begin filing.

The president said he met with Darline Graham in the Oval Office and asked her to run.

“We have known each other for a long time,” he said of Darline Graham in the post made at 3:15 p.m. Friday. “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.”

Lindsey Graham shared a tight bond with his sister, who he adopted and raised following their parents’ deaths. She was 13 and he was 22 when their father died of a massive heart attack. That was 15 months after their mother died of cancer.

SC governor appoints Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister to fulfill his term

Darline Graham has never sought elected office herself.

She was sworn in Tuesday to fulfill her brother’s fourth term, which expires in January.

A mother of two daughters, Darline Graham started her career as a certified optician before transitioning into state government, where she’s worked for 28 years.

That included a dozen years as a director at the state Vocational Rehabilitation Department, an agency that helps people with disabilities get jobs.

Since 2019, she’s led the state Commission for the Blind.

She and her husband, Larry Nordone, live in Lexington.

She is the first woman to represent the Palmetto State in the U.S. Senate.

People voicing their support included U.S. Rep. William Timmons, who had already said he didn’t plan to seek the job.

“President Trump has chosen his candidate and I fully support his choice,” he wrote on X. “It is a fitting tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham’s legacy. Proud to call her a friend and look forward to campaigning for her during the next few weeks!”

The winner of the special GOP primary will face Dr. Annie Andrews in November. The Charleston County pediatrician has made healthcare central to her campaign. She is trying to be the first Democrat to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since Fritz Hollings retired in January 2005.

Memorials for Lindsey Graham will be Tuesday in Washington and Wednesday in Columbia as well as his native Pickens County. Details have yet to be announced.