{"id":2629756,"date":"2026-07-14T17:48:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T21:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bessent-says-no-chance-he-will-run-for-grahams-senate-seat\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T17:49:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T21:49:20","slug":"bessent-says-no-chance-he-will-run-for-grahams-senate-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bessent-says-no-chance-he-will-run-for-grahams-senate-seat\/","title":{"rendered":"Bessent says \u2018no chance\u2019 he will run for Graham&#8217;s Senate seat"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbessent-says-no-chance-he-will-run-for-grahams-senate-seat%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2629756&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has clarified that he will not run for the U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina to replace the late Lindsey Graham. Bessent, a close friend adn former colleague of Graham, stated he has no intention of entering the race and considers his current position in Washington as the best job. Following Graham\u2019s death at 71, speculation arose about Bessent\u2019s potential candidacy, especially since he resides in South Carolina. graham\u2019s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, has been appointed as an interim senator until the end of Graham\u2019s term, which Bessent praised. Several Republicans are now vying for the seat, with former President Trump endorsing Rep.Russell Fry as his preferred candidate. Other potential candidates include Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman. Graham was first elected in 2003 and was seeking a fifth term; the Republican primary is expected to heavily influence the November election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EXCLUSIVE <\/strong>\u2014 Treasury Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/scott-bessent\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11700\">Scott Bessent<\/a> ruled out running to replace the late Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"737\">Lindsey Graham<\/a> (R-SC) on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s going to be a primary in South Carolina, and I will not be in it,\u201d Bessent said in an interview with the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4648131\/maine-democrat-candidates-senate-debate-what-to-know\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Maine Democrats to debate on Thursday: What to Know<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4648094\/lindsey-graham-william-timmons-senate-vacancy\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham ally questions Republicans eyeing replacement bid: \u2018Taking ridiculous positions\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4647821\/trump-texas-democrat-cuellar-race-pardon\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump questions Texas Democrat for launching House race after presidential pardon: \u2018Fighting him\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pressed if there\u2019s any chance of entering the race, Bessent responded, \u201cNo chance. I have the best job in Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speculation about Bessent running started soon after Graham died over the weekend at 71. Bessent is a South Carolina native and still maintains a residence there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bessent and Graham were close friends and worked together to pass President Donald Trump\u2019s signature tax law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bessent hailed the selection of Graham\u2019s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, as a \u201cgreat interim pick\u201d to replace the late senator until the end of his term. Bessent attended her swearing-in on Monday, calling it \u201ca lovely ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Bessent may be out, a number of South Carolina Republicans are already jockeying for the chance to replace Graham.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump suggested Monday that Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC) is his favored candidate. Trump told Newsmax that Fry is \u201coutstanding\u201d and a \u201cvery, very talented person.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4645270\/lindsey-graham-replacement-senate-death\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4645270\/lindsey-graham-replacement-senate-death\/\">HOW WILL LINDSEY GRAHAM BE REPLACED AS SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR AFTER SUDDEN DEATH?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Retiring Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Ralph Norman (R-SC), both of whom lost bids for South Carolina governor, are also eyeing the seat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graham was first elected to the Senate in 2003 and was running for a fifth term this year. Whoever wins the Republican primary will be heavily favored to win the general election in November.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bessent rules out running for Graham&#8217;s Senate seat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4262,"featured_media":2629757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26162580650020.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4506,6571,5894,3740],"class_list":["post-2629756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-4506","tag-elections","tag-politics","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26162580650020.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4262"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2629756"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2629759,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629756\/revisions\/2629759"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2629757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2629756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2629756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2629756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}