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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Republicans Split as South Carolina Senate Race Draws Rival Endorsements

Darline Graham is seeking the seat her brother held and has backing from Donald Trump, Tom Cotton and William Timmons.

Republicans Split as South Carolina Senate Race Draws Rival Endorsements
Image · Newsweek

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Outlet credibilityNewsweek75/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 3, 2026
Newsweek
Jul 18, 2026
tl;dr

After Senator Lindsey Graham’s death, South Carolina Republicans are backing rival contenders for the open Senate seat: Ralph Norman has endorsements from Senators Mike Lee and Rick Scott, while Darline Graham has support from President Donald Trump, Senator Tom Cotton and Representative William Timmons. The contest is becoming a test of Trump’s influence in the primary.

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 Republican candidate for the open Senate seat

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ralph Norman
R · SC-5

South Carolina representative and Republican candidate for the open Senate seat

Norman's version of this story ↗

Iowa representative who conceded a Republican gubernatorial primary

Democratic Senate candidate in Texas

Rick Scott
R · FL · SEN

Senator endorsing Ralph Norman

Lindsey Graham
Former U.S. Senator (R-SC)

Late South Carolina senator whose death created the vacancy

Nancy Mace
R · SC-1

South Carolina representative mentioned in Timmons’s account of his earlier position

Russell Fry
R · SC-7

South Carolina representative and Republican candidate for the open Senate seat

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President urging Darline Graham to run and endorsing her

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky representative who lost a Republican primary to Ed Gallrein

Ken Paxton
R · TX

Texas attorney general and Senate candidate discussed in an endorsement example

Republican House candidate in Kentucky

South Carolina representative endorsing Darline Graham

Tom Cotton
R · AR · SEN

Senator endorsing Darline Graham

John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator and former primary opponent of Ken Paxton

Democratic nominee for South Carolina’s Senate seat

Mike Lee
R · UT · SEN

Senator endorsing Ralph Norman

ALSO MENTIONED  Jimmy Carter, Former president cited as the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry South Carolina; Zach Lahn, Businessman and farmer who won the Iowa Republican gubernatorial primary

Part of a bigger story

5 OUTLETS
Norman and Fry Enter South Carolina Senate Special Primary

Ralph Norman and Russell Fry entered South Carolina’s special Republican primary for the Senate seat, while Donald Trump endorsed Darline Graham. Graham had not publicly committed to running. Left-leaning outlets cast the entries as a challenge to Trump’s influence. Center outlets report Norman’s entry and rival endorsements, with one article describing the contest as a test of Trump’s influence. Right-leaning outlets stress that candidates entered despite Trump’s endorsement and highlight voter choice and the limits of his backing.

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