Republican defies Trump to enter race to replace Lindsey Graham
Darline Graham Nordone was appointed to fill her brother’s Senate term and has not announced whether she will run.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYThe Daily Mail is an established publisher with named bylines, but its tabloid style and uneven reputation warrant a more cautious score than for outlets with a stronger record of rigorous reporting.
- Track record — A longstanding international news publisher, though its reputation for reliability is mixed.
- Author attribution — The article names a reporter and identifies her political reporting role.
- Editorial standards — The outlet has a tabloid presentation and does not demonstrate particularly rigorous sourcing in this article.
- Transparency — The page provides a byline and publication and update times.
The article reports identifiable campaign developments and quotes statements from the politicians involved. It offers little independent sourcing or broader context, and several consequential claims are presented without further corroboration.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes competing political perspectives, including Trump’s endorsement and Mace’s criticism, but relies chiefly on politicians’ statements and provides limited independent context.
- Counterarguments presented — Mace criticizes Fry’s decision while Trump supports Nordone’s possible candidacy.
- Source diversity — The article quotes several political figures but does not include independent experts or voters.
- Omitted context — It gives little detail about the special-election process or the candidates’ positions.
- Loaded language — Some dramatic phrasing appears, but much of the evaluative language is attributed to its speakers.
The article does not show a clear ideological lean. Its language is occasionally dramatic, but the reported political positions and criticisms are attributed to the people making them.
- Language tone — Mostly reportorial, with some attention-grabbing phrasing.
- Source selection — Includes statements from Trump, Nordone, and Mace, but little independent or outside commentary.
- Framing — Frames the race as a conflict over the Senate seat and possible consequences for the House majority.
Russell Fry announced that he will seek the Republican nomination for the Senate seat left vacant by Lindsey Graham’s death. The race could affect the House majority if Fry gives up his reelection bid, while Donald Trump has urged Darline Graham Nordone to run instead.
Fry announced his entry into the special Republican primary to replace Graham, who died earlier this month. Fry is also on the November ballot for reelection to the House; the article says that leaving the race could narrow the Republicans’ already slim House majority. Ralph Norman has also entered the Senate race, and Nancy Mace has criticized Fry’s decision to pursue two offices.
Trump said he had asked Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to run and promised her his endorsement. Governor Henry McMaster appointed Nordone to serve the remainder of Graham’s term. Nordone said she was honored by the opportunity but did not announce that she would run. The special election is scheduled for August 11.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo good or bad look here
This story reports what happened without casting Graham in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Graham’s record.
People in this story
SWIPE →Interim senator and potential candidate urged by Trump to run
President who urged Nordone to run and offered his endorsement
Trump's version of this story ↗U.S. representative entering the Republican primary for the Senate seat
Fry's version of this story ↗Senator whose death left the seat vacant
Representative who criticized Fry’s Senate bid
House Speaker whose majority could be affected if Fry leaves the House
Representative who entered the Senate race
House Democratic leader mentioned in Mace’s warning about the majority
Part of a bigger story
40 OUTLETSCenter and right-leaning outlets report that Darline Graham announced she will seek a full Senate term after being appointed to fill the remainder of her late brother’s term. Center outlets describe the announcement as a campaign development and provide context on the Republican primary and its other candidates. Right-leaning outlets also place her bid in the primary, with some emphasizing President Donald Trump’s endorsement and others reporting conservative criticism of her candidacy.
- ARTICLES
- 40
- OUTLETS
- 40
- AVG CRED
- 71
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