Senate Majority Leader John Thune declined to endorse Darline Graham Nordone in the Republican primary for her late brother Lindsey Graham's Senate seat, stating that "the voters in South Carolina decide it." Nordone, who was appointed to fill her brother's term after his death, had her intention to run for the permanent seat announced on Monday.
Thune described Nordone as a "strong candidate" who "obviously carries on Lindsey's legacy," but stopped short of a formal endorsement. News of her potential candidacy broke in a clip from an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Donald Trump has publicly offered Nordone his "complete and total endorsement."
Nordone, who has not previously held elected office, was appointed to serve the remainder of Senator Graham's term by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and was sworn in on July 14. Her brother's term was set to conclude in January, necessitating a special election.
Several other Republicans have declared their candidacies for the primary, including South Carolina Congressmen Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, and businessmen Patrick Hermann and Mark Lynch, and attorney Duke Buckner. Fry formally declared his candidacy on Monday.
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Nancy Mace announced on X that she would not be entering the race. The filing period for candidates opens on Tuesday and will close one week later, leaving a short window for campaigning before the August 11 primary.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who was nominated earlier this year. South Carolina has consistently voted Republican in Senate elections since 2005.
