Darline Graham announced on Sunday that she will run for a full six-year term in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat, days after President Donald Trump gave his endorsement and just nine days after her brother, longtime Senator Lindsey Graham, died from an aortic dissection. Graham, 62, made the announcement during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, saying “I’m in” and expressing that she felt “an inner peace” about the decision despite acknowledging it will be difficult.
Graham was appointed to the Senate seat on July 12 by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to serve the remainder of her brother’s term, which ends in early January 2027. She was sworn in on July 14 during a brief ceremony on the Senate floor. The special Republican primary election is set for August 11, 2026, with the filing deadline on July 28.
In her announcement, Graham emphasized her work ethic and decades of public service. “I’ve been praying a lot, talking to my family,” she said. “With the love of my family, with the support of his staff, I know I’m a hard worker. I learned that from Lindsey. He cared about the people of this state. I’ve worked for almost 30 years for the people of this state.”
Trump endorsed Graham on Friday, stating he had given his “complete and total endorsement” to her. “I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. This endorsement came as funeral services for Lindsey Graham were being scheduled for late July in both Washington, D.C., and South Carolina.
Background in Disability Advocacy
Unlike her brother, whose political career spanned 33 years in elected office, Darline Graham has never run for or held elected office before her appointment. Her professional background centers on disability advocacy and vocational rehabilitation. Since 2019, she has served as head of South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind, which focuses on employment and training for people who are blind or have low vision.
Graham has spent nearly three decades working in publicly funded programs that help people with disabilities overcome barriers to employment. Former colleagues and disability advocates describe her as a dedicated civil servant who is uninterested in the spotlight and deeply knowledgeable about issues facing the disability community. Kimberly Tissot, president of Able South Carolina, a federally funded center that provides services for people with disabilities, said Graham is “a leader, but she’s not the kind of leader to ever brag about what she’s done.”
Graham was involved in South Carolina’s 2022 effort to end subminimum wage for people with disabilities, which passed with overwhelming support in the Republican-controlled state legislature. She served on key committees working to unwind the state’s remaining subminimum wage practices. Despite her significant contributions to disability policy, Tissot noted that Graham “always in the back” and “never wanted that recognition.”
Crowded GOP Primary
Graham’s entry into the race complicates an already competitive Republican primary. Other GOP candidates who have announced plans to run include South Carolina Representatives Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, as well as businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to Lindsey Graham in the June Republican primary. The winner of the August 11 primary will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November’s general election.
The rapid timeline for the special election—with filing deadlines just eight days after Graham’s announcement—has compressed what is normally a lengthy campaign process. Graham’s appointment and subsequent campaign announcement have unfolded in the immediate aftermath of her brother’s death, with his funeral services scheduled for late July.
Sources
- NBC News — Darline Graham’s announcement of her candidacy, Trump’s endorsement, and details of the special election timeline
- PBS NewsHour — Darline Graham’s career in disability advocacy and vocational rehabilitation, her role with South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind, and colleague commentary
- The Washington Post — Lindsey Graham’s death from aortic dissection and Darline Graham’s appointment by Governor McMaster
- NPR — Darline Graham’s swearing-in ceremony and appointment details
- Politico — Trump’s endorsement of Darline Graham
- The Hill — Darline Graham’s entry into the GOP primary
