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Trump endorsement fails to clear GOP field as former governor joins South Carolina Senate race

Trump endorsed Darline Graham, but other Republicans entered the primary despite his backing.

Trump endorsement fails to clear GOP field as former governor joins South Carolina Senate race
Image · Yahoo News

SOURCE CHECK

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Host credibilityYahoo News76/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 2, 2026

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Republished from Fox News, with credit to the original publisher.

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1,162 stories · 69.6–70.1 · updated Oct 6, 2026

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Yahoo Newsvia Fox News
Jul 24, 2026
tl;dr

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford entered the crowded Republican Senate primary, joining Sen. Darline Graham and Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry. President Donald Trump endorsed Graham, but Norman and Fry are also seeking the nomination while emphasizing their support for Trump.

Community verdict

23 VOTES
How does this story look for
Donald Trump R · President of the United States
● OPEN

People in this story

SWIPE →
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Darline Graham

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ralph Norman
R · SC-5

Representative and Republican Senate candidate

Norman's version of this story ↗
Darline Graham
R · SC · SEN

Senator and Republican Senate candidate

Graham's version of this story ↗
Rick Scott
R · FL · SEN

Senator who endorsed Ralph Norman

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

Late senator whose seat is being contested

Nancy Mace
R · SC-1

Representative who endorsed Ralph Norman

Russell Fry
R · SC-7

Representative and Republican Senate candidate

Mark Lynch
R · SC

Businessman and Republican Senate candidate

John Barrasso
R · WY · SEN

Senate Majority Whip who endorsed Darline Graham

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate Majority Leader who commented on Graham’s candidacy

Democratic Senate nominee

Mike Lee
R · UT · SEN

Senator who endorsed Ralph Norman

ALSO MENTIONED  Mark Sanford, Former governor and Republican Senate candidate; Henry McMaster, South Carolina governor mentioned in connection with the prior gubernatorial race

Part of a bigger story

6 OUTLETS
Trump Presses Senate Republicans to Advance SAVE America Act

Outlets agree that Trump and the White House pressed Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader John Thune, to advance the SAVE America Act. Thune and other Republicans disputed whether the bill had enough support to pass. Left-leaning outlets emphasize Republican pushback and the bill’s Senate obstacles, portraying Trump’s pressure as a source of GOP frustration. Center outlets focus on the pressure and the dispute over Senate support, with one article also noting Trump’s call to end the filibuster. Right-leaning outlets focus instead on Trump’s endorsement in a South Carolina Senate primary and other candidates entering the race.

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