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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

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.

Republican defies Trump to enter race to replace Lindsey Graham
Image · Daily Mail

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Outlet credibilityDaily Mail54/100 MEDIUM
This article1 analysis · Oct 2, 2026
Jul 20, 2026
tl;dr

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.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Darline Graham R · SC · SEN
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No 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.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Darline Graham
R · SC · SEN

Interim senator and potential candidate urged by Trump to run

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who urged Nordone to run and offered his endorsement

Trump's version of this story ↗
Russell Fry
R · SC-7

U.S. representative entering the Republican primary for the Senate seat

Fry's version of this story ↗
Lindsey Graham
Former U.S. Senator (R-SC)

Senator whose death left the seat vacant

Nancy Mace
R · SC-1

Representative who criticized Fry’s Senate bid

Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

House Speaker whose majority could be affected if Fry leaves the House

Ralph Norman
R · SC-5

Representative who entered the Senate race

House Democratic leader mentioned in Mace’s warning about the majority

ALSO MENTIONED  Henry McMaster, South Carolina governor who appointed Nordone to fill the vacant Senate term

Part of a bigger story

40 OUTLETS
Darline Graham Announces Run for Full Senate Term

Center 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.

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