Tim Scott floats Darline Graham Nordone as permanent successor to her brother
Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) indicated interest in a potential primary run for the South Carolina Senate seat vacated by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, suggesting that Darline Graham Nordone, who was recently appointed to fill her brother’s remaining term, could be a strong candidate. Scott questioned why Nordone should not run in the GOP primary to become Graham’s permanent replacement. While Scott did not endorse any candidate publicly, he noted he might support Nordone personally and has encouraged others, including trey Gowdy, to consider running. The primary is scheduled for August 11, with the winner facing Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November. The seat is considered safely Republican in the general election.
graham Nordone, who is serving temporarily after her appointment by Governor henry McMaster, has not publicly expressed interest in a permanent run. Other potential contenders include Representatives Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace, Lt. Gov. pamela Evette, and Representative Russell fry, who has ties to former President Trump.
Lindsey Graham died unexpectedly over the weekend due to a tear in his aorta before his fifth Senate re-election. He was known for his focus on foreign policy, particularly his support for Ukraine. Scott emphasized that his priority is for the selected successor to embody qualities such as a strong foreign policy stance and humble beginnings, rather than backing specific candidates at this stage. Scott clarified he woudl not interfere in the primary as a campaign chairman but might endorse as a private citizen.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) suggested Wednesday that interim Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC), the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham who was sworn in this week to fill her older brother’s seat, run in the South Carolina special GOP primary to become his permanent replacement.
“’Why not her?’ would be my question, as it relates to the folks that are in the race, other members of Congress, and former congressmembers who’ve called me as well,” Scott told reporters. “There certainly seems to be a long list of folks who want to get involved.”
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An Aug. 11 special Republican Senate primary will be held, the winner of which will take on Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the November midterm elections for a full six-year term.
Scott, who leads the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, noted he would not put his thumb on the scale of the primary as a campaign chairman but could make an endorsement in a personal capacity as Graham’s former home state colleague. The seat is firmly in the GOP’s hands for the general election, meaning the nominee is all but certain to win in November.
“As Tim Scott, the voter of South Carolina, I might indeed wade into the water at some point,” Scott said.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Nordone for comment. She assumed her brother’s seat Tuesday after being appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC) and will serve the remainder of Graham’s term, which ends in January 2027. It’s unclear whether she would be interested in running for the permanent position and was believed to be only a temporary caretaker of the seat.
Scott has lobbied Fox News host Trey Gowdy, a former South Carolina Republican congressman, to launch a bid but was reportedly turned down.
“I can’t think of a better person that I think represents the heart of South Carolina than Trey Gowdy,” Scott said. “However, he’s been pretty clear that he is not looking for the job [or] asking for the job.”
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Other potential contenders include the state’s three unsuccessful candidates for governor this year: Reps. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), who has close ties to President Donald Trump, is another possible candidate.
Graham was set to score his fifth reelection in November but died suddenly over the weekend after a tear in his aorta, according to preliminary medical findings.
SCOTT BESSENT SAYS THERE IS ‘NO CHANCE’ HE WILL RUN FOR LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SENATE SEAT
Graham was chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and among the most foreign policy-focused Republicans in Congress. He was a strong supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia and had just returned from an overseas trip to the country when he died. Among the qualities Scott wants Graham’s ultimate successor to embody is a “desire for a foreign policy footprint” and someone “who understood the humble beginnings.”
“It’s more important for me to talk about the qualities that I want to see in the person, as opposed to the qualities I don’t see in some of the folks,” Scott said of candidates. “In my opinion, the voters get to decide whether or not the candidate has qualities or not.”
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