Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), announced Monday that she is running to succeed her brother in the U.S. Senate.
Nordone announced her decision to enter the race during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
“I’m in,” Nordone told Hannity on Monday, acknowledging “a tremendous amount of pressure” around the decision.
“I have been praying a lot, talking to my family, but with the love of my family, with the support of his staff, I know I’m a hard worker. I learned that from Lindsey. He cared about the people of this state. I worked for almost 30 years for the people of this state, I feel like I can do it,” she said.
“I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes. Absolutely,” she added.
Nordone’s announcement comes days after President Donald Trump endorsed her before she had publicly announced her candidacy.
In a Truth Social post, Trump backed Nordone to run in the August 11 special GOP primary, telling her: “RUN, DARLINE, RUN!”
“She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot,” Trump said about Nordone. “Lindsey was one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, and his sister shares his deep love of our Country, and the State of South Carolina.”
Nordone earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from South Carolina State University. She later worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and served on the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
Graham unexpectedly died earlier this month at his Capitol Hill home in what the medical examiner’s office believes was an aortic dissection. Before collapsing, Graham reportedly told a staffer he was experiencing chest pain.
Graham had easily won his Republican primary in June before his sudden death upended the race. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman are among the prominent Republicans considering a run.
Other potential candidates are clearing the way for Graham’s sister. Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who got fourth place in the recent gubernatorial primary, announced late Monday that she wouldn’t run.
“I want to be straight with you. I’m not running for the U.S. Senate, not because I’m backing down from a fight, but because the one I’m already in matters right now,” Mace said. “I’m not chasing another title. I’m chasing justice, justice for me, justice for other women, and justice for every little girl who was told to stay silent,” before adding her work is not done.
“I’m even gonna sh*t post from time to time… because someone has to call out the dumb*ss*s… because if we don’t, we as a country will be gone,” she added.
The Cook Political Report ranks the seat as Solid Republican going into November.
Memorial services for Graham will be held in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina on July 28 and 29 after funeral plans were delayed to accommodate foreign dignitaries, a staffer revealed on Friday.
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