Darline Graham Nordone announced Friday that she will run for a full term in the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by her late brother, Lindsey Graham, in South Carolina. The announcement followed her swearing-in last week as her brother's temporary replacement.
President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Nordone for the special election, urging her to run in the Special Republican Primary scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, 2026. "I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey," Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.
Trump described Nordone as a "WINNER" and assured supporters that "SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN. RUN, DARLINE, RUN!"
Nordone, a mother of two with a background in disabilities services, has been a vocal supporter of her brother's political career but has not previously held elected office. Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas also announced his support for Nordone, stating on X, formerly Twitter, that he was "proud to join President Trump and endorse Darline Graham” in the Republican primary.