Trump may have endorsed Darline Graham, but GOP Senate hopefuls aren’t backing down

As nan starting weapon successful nan Republican title to win nan late Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina is officially fired, nan showdown is shaping up arsenic nan latest trial of President Donald Trump's immense clout complete nan GOP and nan powerfulness of his endorsements successful statement primaries.

On nan eve of Tuesday's kickoff of a week-long filing play for nan Aug. 11 primary, Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed past week to capable nan remainder of her precocious brother's term, announced 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 Graham, while highly potent, isn't deterring different Republicans from jumping into nan race.

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Newly appointed Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, right, pinch Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., left, speaks during a property convention announcing her assignment to capable nan vacancy created by nan passing of her brother, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, astatine nan statehouse Monday, July 13, 2026, successful Columbia, S.C.  (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)

"South Carolina voters want to person a prime and not beryllium told who they request to beryllium voting for," Palmetto State-based Republican advisor Dave Wilson told Fox News Digital.

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 tally sloppy of whom nan president is supporting."

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

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And connected Monday, Republican Rep. Russell Fry jumped into nan race.

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.

Republican Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette connected Tuesday near nan doorway unfastened to running, penning successful a societal media post, "We request a strong, proven blimpish to capable nan shoes of a man who dedicated his life to serving nan group and fighting for what South Carolina needs to support our businesses, our infrastructure, and our increasing economy."

Wilson noted that "the president’s speedy endorsement of Darline Graham was very symbolic."

But he added, "We’re seeing successful South Carolina that his [the president’s] endorsement didn’t transportation arsenic overmuch weight arsenic group thought it was going to."

Wilson was referring to Trump’s endorsement of Evette up of nan GOP gubernatorial primary. Evette was nan apical ballot getter successful nan superior but mislaid nan ensuing runoff predetermination against South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson successful a landslide. Days earlier nan runoff, pinch Wilson starring nan nationalist sentiment polls, Trump made an 11th-hour endorsement of nan lawyer wide successful summation to his backing of Evette.

"People present successful South Carolina saw that Trump's endorsement of Evette didn't put her complete nan top, and they consciousness for illustration nan Senate superior could besides beryllium up for grabs," a Republican operative who asked for anonymity to speak much freely told Fox News Digital.

Trump a week agone lauded Fry, a two-term congressman who represents nan northeastern area of South Carolina, arsenic "very talented" and "very popular," and said he would beryllium an "outstanding" contender for nan vacant Senate seat.

Asked astir Fry's determination to motorboat a Senate run successful nan aftermath of Trump's backing of Darline Graham, a root successful Fry's governmental orbit told Fox News Digital, "This is really astir giving voters a prime and not a coronation."

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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 and Norman, 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.

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 highlighted, "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.

Graham does person nan backing of dense hitters successful nan Senate GOP, however, including Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who said that, "Darline Graham is an fantabulous legislator — 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.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., right, seen pinch nan precocious GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, is staying neutral arsenic of now successful nan title to win Graham. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu/Getty Images)

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

Backed pinch 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.

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

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U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., announces she will tally for South Carolina politician during a property convention astatine nan Citadel successful Charleston, South Carolina, connected Aug. 4, 2025. (Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

A well-known House Republican who has fought complete nan past twelvemonth pinch Trump decided against a Senate run. Rep. Nancy Mace, who ran unsuccessfully this twelvemonth for nan GOP gubernatorial nomination, announced connected Monday that she wouldn't motorboat a Senate campaign.

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The filing play for nan Senate superior ends astatine noon Eastern clip adjacent Tuesday, July 28.

If nary campaigner tops 50% successful nan Aug. 11 primary, a runoff predetermination will beryllium held among nan apical 2 voter-getters connected August 25.

If nary campaigner reaches 50% of nan vote, a runoff predetermination would beryllium held successful precocious August.

Fox News' Tyler Olson contributed to this report.