WASHINGTON — Late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, announced that she intends to run for a full six-year term in the Senate.
Nordone (R-SC), who was sworn in as an interim senator last week, reflected on President Trump’s public encouragement for her to run and on the legacy of her brother, who died suddenly at age 71.
“I’ve been praying a lot, talking to my family,” she told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “I know I’m a hard worker.”
“He [Lindsey] cared about the people of this state. I’ve worked for almost 30 years for the people of this state,” she added. “I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it.”
“I’ve made a decision,” she concluded. “I’m in.”
The filing deadline for the GOP nod for South Carolina’s Senate seat opens Tuesday, giving the newly minted interim senator just about a week to formalize her bid.
Notably, her decision has to be made before her brother’s funeral on July 28, which had been delayed due to the scores of world leaders and dignitaries who wanted to attend.
The primary will take place on Aug. 11.
The late senator died abruptly on July 11 from heart complications and had been vying for another term in the Senate. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) promptly tapped Nordone for the seat in a placeholder capacity.
Initially, Nordone was seen as a placeholder for the role, and a handful of Republicans such as Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Ralph Norman (R-SC) began exploring a possible run for the seat. Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC) announced Monday he will enter the race — setting up a potential face-off with Trump’s choice.
Trump publicly implored Nordone to go for the job — just days after McMaster chose her to serve out the final months of Graham’s current term.
“We have known each other for a long time — She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot,” Trump wrote on Truth Social last week.
“During her visit, I asked Nordone, for the Good of our Nation, to run for the U.S. Senate in the Special Republican Primary on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. I hope Nordone does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey.”
Nordone’s full interview with Hannity is set to air at 9 pm ET Monday.
