A close ally of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham is criticizing fellow South Carolina Republicans for what he calls a premature and "thirsty" rush to replace the senator. Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., stated that the rapid signaling of interest in the vacant seat following Graham's death on Sunday "rubbed me the wrong way."
Within 24 hours of Graham's passing, Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, both Republicans from South Carolina, indicated their intentions to run in the upcoming special election. Mace, who recently failed to secure the Republican nomination for governor, posted a quote from "The Godfather III" on social media, suggesting her potential return to the political arena. Norman has reportedly sought an endorsement from former President Donald Trump for the race.
Timmons, who described himself as a mentee of Graham and shared a close bond with the senator, argued that such immediate campaigning is inappropriate. He suggested that some colleagues are seeking attention at the expense of decorum and respect, qualities he believes were hallmarks of Graham's approach to the Senate.
"I don't know, I think it's unfortunate that these people are so thirsty for attention that they'll get it at the expense of — It just rubbed me the wrong way," Timmons told Fox News Digital. He added that candidates should not engage in "outlandish things and taking ridiculous positions just for the purpose of getting clicks."
Timmons emphasized that Graham earned respect through his work and by building trust with colleagues, rather than through divisive rhetoric. He suggested that the next senator from South Carolina should embody a similar approach, working to earn trust and respect without resorting to personal attacks.
"You don't tweet hateful things at them. You don't tell them what to do. You tell them why this is a good path forward, and sometimes you have to figure out a way that you can make it work," Timmons explained, reflecting on lessons learned from Graham.
Graham's sister, Darline Graham, has been appointed as a temporary replacement and is expected to serve out the remainder of his term. Filing for the primary race is scheduled to begin a week from Tuesday. When asked about his own potential interest in the seat, Timmons did not rule it out, stating that such considerations would be a "conversation for the future" and acknowledging the significant role President Trump might play in deciding the next senator.