President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has encouraged newly appointed Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to run for the Senate seat in South Carolina’s upcoming special Republican primary.
Trump shared the news in a post on Truth Social after meeting with Nordone in the Oval Office, praising her as a patriot and promising his “Complete and Total Endorsement” if she decides to enter the Aug. 11 Republican primary.
Nordone was sworn into the U.S. Senate on July 14 to complete the remainder of her brother’s term following his sudden death last week. Her temporary appointment will expire when the current term ends in January 2027.
In his Truth Social post, Trump reflected on his relationship with the Graham family and spoke highly of the newly appointed senator.
“It was my Honor to welcome now Senator Darline Graham Nordone (The sister of the Late, Great Lindsey Graham!), from the Wonderful State of South Carolina, into the Oval Office,” Trump wrote. “We have known each other for a long time — She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot.”
Trump also paid tribute to Lindsey Graham, calling the longtime South Carolina senator one of the finest lawmakers he had known while expressing confidence that his sister shares the same commitment to the country and her home state.
“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,” Trump wrote.
According to the president, he personally encouraged Nordone to seek the Republican nomination for the Senate seat, arguing that she would be well suited to carry on her brother’s legacy.
“During her visit, 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,” Trump wrote. “I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey.”
Trump continued by praising Nordone and her family, describing her as someone who has consistently succeeded throughout her life.
“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!” Trump concluded.
As of Friday, no candidate had officially entered the race for the Republican nomination.
However, the article notes that political observers believe the accelerated election schedule could significantly limit the pool of viable contenders.
According to a report from WCNC in Charlotte, South Carolina, the compressed timeline favors candidates who already possess established campaign organizations and recent political infrastructure.
The report identified several Republican figures who could potentially enter the race, including Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman, and Lt. Gov. Pam Evette.
WCNC also noted that Evette recently narrowly lost the Republican gubernatorial runoff to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.
With the special Republican primary scheduled for Aug. 11, attention is now focused on whether Nordone will accept Trump’s invitation to seek the nomination and attempt to continue her brother’s service in the United States Senate.
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