Senator Darline Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, has announced her candidacy for the special election to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's Senate seat. Appointed to serve the remainder of his term, she expressed a desire to make her position permanent after receiving encouragement from former President Donald Trump. In an interview with Fox News, she acknowledged the pressure to run and stated, "I'm in."
Her entry into the race adds to a growing list of candidates, including Representatives Ralph Norman, Russell Fry, and Nancy Mace, who have also expressed interest in the nomination. Mace has criticized Fry's dual candidacy for both the Senate and his House seat, arguing it could jeopardize the Republican majority in the House. Fry's supporters claim he has achieved significant legislative accomplishments during his time in Congress.
The South Carolina Statehouse leaders have indicated they will address legal issues related to candidates running for multiple offices, which has become a point of contention in the upcoming election. Both Mace and Norman have previously run for the gubernatorial nomination but were unsuccessful. Norman expressed concerns about the implications of Fry's candidacy on representation for constituents and the potential impact on the Republican agenda.