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

Former congressman and erstwhile South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a GOP professional of President Donald Trump, launched a Senate bid connected Thursday arsenic he became nan latest high-profile Republican moving for nan spot of nan precocious Sen. Lindsey Graham and joins a crowded section against Trump's endorsed candidate.

"We’re astatine a tipping point, and that’s why I’ve decided to tally for nan U.S. Senate," Sanford said successful a motorboat video. "I’d inquire that you look astatine my grounds successful Congress and arsenic politician successful watching retired for your family’s future."

Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed past week to capable nan remainder of her precocious brother's term, announced Monday successful an question and reply connected Fox News' "Hannity" that she's moving for a afloat six-year word successful nan Senate. Graham's announcement came 3 days aft she met pinch Trump astatine nan White House, and nan president gave her his "complete and full endorsement" arsenic he encouraged her to run.

But Trump's backing of nan precocious senator's sister isn't stopping different well-known South Carolina Republicans from jumping into nan contest.

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Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., arrives to nan swearing successful for Darline Graham Nordone arsenic U.S. Senator astatine nan U.S. Capitol connected July 14, 2026 successful Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Republican Rep. Ralph Norman, who unsuccessfully campaigned this twelvemonth for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in nan title to win term-limited South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, announced his volition to tally this past weekend.

Two-term GOP Rep. Russell Fry followed connected Monday. And businessman Mark Lynch, who mislaid to Lindsey Graham by astir 30 points successful past month's GOP Senate primary, besides announced he'd return different changeable astatine nan Republican nomination.

The typical Republican Senate superior will beryllium held connected Aug. 11. If nary campaigner tops 50%, a runoff predetermination will beryllium held among nan apical 2 voter-getters connected Aug. 25.

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Former congressman and erstwhile South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is moving successful adjacent month's typical Republican Senate superior successful nan title to capable nan spot of nan precocious Sen. Lindsey Graham. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Sanford, who served 3 position successful nan U.S. House successful nan 1990s, won predetermination arsenic South Carolina politician successful 2002 and was re-elected 4 years later. A rising blimpish prima successful nan GOP, he grabbed nationalist attraction and derailed his governmental profession pursuing an extramarital matter successful 2009. But Sanford made a governmental comeback, winning predetermination to his aged spot successful Congress successful 2012 and served 3 terms.

He concisely launched a longshot and unsuccessful statesmanlike information situation against Trump successful nan 2020 primaries.

Known arsenic a fiscally blimpish fund hawk, Sanford pointed to nan nation's indebtedness arsenic a cardinal motivator down his determination to motorboat a Senate campaign.

"Our state is astatine a financial tipping point, and I can’t beryllium connected nan sidelines while Washington adds a trillion dollars to nan indebtedness each 100 days," Sanford explained. "I’m worried for our children because for nan first time, America is borrowing from nan early faster than we’re building it."

Unlike Sanford, Fry and Norman, who are some Trump friends successful nan House, are highlighting their support for nan president.

"South Carolina doesn't request conscionable different senator. It needs President Trump's strongest state successful nan United States Senate. Make nary mistake: I will beryllium President Trump’s favourite U.S. Senator, and you will person a MAGA combatant you tin count on," Fry wrote successful a societal media station arsenic he announced his Senate run.

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Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., arrives for nan House Republican Conference caucus gathering astatine nan Capitol Hill Club successful Washington connected Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Fry described himself arsenic a "MAGA warrior" successful an accompanying video, which included pictures of him smiling alongside Trump.

Norman emphasized that he's "running to correspond nan group of South Carolina successful nan U.S. Senate because we request a combatant who will guidelines pinch President Trump and transportation connected Lindsey Graham’s legacy!"

And pointing to Trump's apical legislative priority, he noted, "I want to get nan SAVE America Act passed successful nan Senate!"

Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Rick Scott of Florida, conservatives and staunch Trump friends successful nan chamber, some cited Norman's support for Trump's predetermination betterment measure arsenic they went against nan president and endorsed nan congressman. Norman is besides being backed by nan governmental limb of nan powerful blimpish group Turning Point USA.

Norman besides landed nan backing of Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina. The endorsement by Mace, first reported by Fox News Digital, came aft nan retiring congresswoman who earlier this twelvemonth unsuccessfully ran for governor, announced connected Monday that she wouldn't tally for nan Senate.

Besides nan president's powerful endorsement, Graham does person nan backing of dense hitters successful Congress, including Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who said, "Darline Graham is an fantabulous senator. She’ll proceed to beryllium an fantabulous senator, and she has my afloat support."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., however, is staying retired of nan title for now.

Thune said that Graham is simply a "strong candidate," and though she lacked elected experience, he noted she was "very accomplished successful her ain life."

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Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, R-S.C., participates successful a ceremonial swearing-in successful nan Old Senate Chamber astatine nan U.S. Capitol connected July 14 successful Washington, DC. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

"She has a right, for illustration everybody else, to get successful that race," Thune said.

Backed by Trump's endorsement and enjoying plentifulness of sanction nickname acknowledgment to her well-known past name, pundits position Darline Graham arsenic a frontrunner successful nan three-week sprint to nan Republican primary. And nan victor of nan GOP information will beryllium considered nan clear favourite against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews successful nan wide predetermination successful nan solidly reddish southeastern state.

Trump's endorsements aren't infallible, but his way grounds truthful acold this cycle, albeit a mates of setbacks, is impressive.

Veteran Republican strategist and communicator Ryan Williams noted that "the Trump endorsement is simply a awesome boost for immoderate candidacy, but it doesn’t needfully springiness you a fastener connected nan seat."

"Senate seats successful South Carolina do not travel up very often, and authorities is each astir timing. You’ve sewage to prehend nan opportunity erstwhile it presents itself," Williams told Fox News Digital. "If you’re an aspiring House personnel successful South Carolina, this is your clip to run, sloppy of whom nan president is supporting."

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And Williams, referring to Norman and Fry, noted, "There’s nary downside for running. They’re going to tally arsenic Trump Republicans, and they’re going to flatter nan president connected nan run trail."

That's apt not nan lawsuit for Sanford, who didn't mention Trump successful his societal media station aliases his accompanying run motorboat video.

Fox News' Liz Elkind contributed to this story.