Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., threw his support behind Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., on Friday as she heads into a Republican runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., for South Carolina’s Senate nomination.
Fry, who fell short of qualifying for the runoff following the Republican primary, urged those who supported his campaign to rally behind Graham as she seeks a full term in the Senate seat previously held by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
“President Trump needs fighters and allies in the Senate who will show up every day and get results. I believe Darline Graham will be exactly that,” Fry said in a statement Friday.
“I’m asking everyone who supported our campaign to join me in supporting Darline Graham for the United States Senate,” he added.
President Donald Trump had initially signaled that he might support Fry in the Senate contest but ultimately endorsed Graham instead.
Graham said on Aug. 10 that she is “100 percent behind” Trump and that the president has embraced her with open arms.
She is now seeking a full term representing the Palmetto State and has the financial backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Graham emerged as the top vote-getter in the Republican primary, capturing 32.7% of the vote, according to Decision Desk HQ. Norman finished second with 24.6%.
Fry missed qualifying for the runoff by approximately four percentage points, leaving Graham and Norman to battle for the GOP nomination.
Graham entered the Senate under unusual circumstances after her brother unexpectedly died in early July. South Carolina Republican Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to fill the resulting vacancy.
Before being appointed to the Senate, Graham had worked as a disability rights advocate and had never held political office.
She has already taken positions on several issues during her first weeks in Washington.
Graham co-sponsored the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, legislation aimed at narrowing the documents that can be used for voter verification in an effort to combat fraud.
She has also publicly separated herself from her late brother on the Senate filibuster.
During a Republican Senate debate, Graham said she supports eliminating the filibuster, arguing that Democrats will eventually do so themselves.
“I am all for, this is where I differ from my brother, getting rid of the filibuster to get this done, because eventually the Democrats are going to get rid of it anyway,” Graham said.
Fry’s endorsement now gives Graham the backing of another South Carolina Republican as she prepares to face Norman in the runoff.
With Trump already supporting Graham, Fry is asking his own primary voters to follow his lead and help the appointed senator secure the Republican nomination as she campaigns to remain in her late brother’s Senate seat for a full term.
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