The battle to succeed the late Lindsey Graham in the U.S. Senate from South Carolina has turned fierce following his unexpected death at the age of 71. A staunch supporter of Donald Trump, Graham passed away suddenly on Saturday night due to what has been described as a heart complication. In the wake of his passing, a contentious fight for his Senate seat has emerged, with President Trump stepping into the fray. On Monday, Trump announced on his Truth Social media platform that he is advocating for Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to be appointed as the interim senator. “I recommended to Governor Henry McMaster that Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, be named as interim Senator for the great state of South Carolina,” Trump wrote. “This would be a wonderful tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!” The process to select his replacement involves an immediate gubernatorial appointment followed by a special election to permanently fill the seat. While a prominent Fox News host has removed himself from consideration, several others, including embattled Congresswoman Nancy Mace, are exploring potential candidacies.
White House officials reject Mace’s bid
However, insiders from the White House have informed the Daily Mail that Nancy Mace faces steep odds following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the state’s recent gubernatorial primary. High-ranking officials are against Mace taking over Graham’s position and have indicated they would financially support opposition against her. A Trump insider candidly expressed, “She would be a total disaster.” Former Congressman Trey Gowdy, now hosting “Sunday Night in America” on Fox News, communicated through a spokesperson that he has no interest or discussions concerning the Senate vacancy.
Gowdy among names floated for seat
Having represented South Carolina’s 4th Congressional district from 2011 to 2019, Trey Gowdy held key roles, including chairing both the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Select Committee on Benghazi. He was also a notable figure in the House Judiciary Committee. Senator Tim Scott mentioned on CBS that Gowdy, Graham’s sister Darline, and former Senator Jim DeMint are potential interim candidates. “I hope the governor appoints a placeholder and lets the voters decide,” Scott said during an interview with CBS’s Gayle King.
Evette weighs run amid growing support
As of now, Governor McMaster has yet to officially appoint someone to the seat, but expectations lean towards him following Trump’s recommendation to select Darline. After discussing Darline Graham Nordone, Scott praised her understanding of Lindsey Graham’s passion for his family, state, and country in a post on X. Meanwhile, McMaster may pursue a different path amid separate calls supporting Gowdy, according to Politico. In the anticipated August 11th special primary, candidates might include Pamela Evette, South Carolina’s lieutenant governor, who placed second in the gubernatorial primary runoff. An advisor to Evette shared with the Daily Mail that she is pondering entering the race, receiving encouragement from both local and national leaders.
Mace and Norman eye full term
Nancy Mace and fellow South Carolina congressman Ralph Norman, who faced defeat in the primary, have indicated their interest in seeking a full-term Senate position. Mace’s campaign released a statement acknowledging Lindsey Graham as a mentor, remembering him as quick-witted and humorous. In a nod to Graham’s influence, she posted a clip from “The Godfather: Part III” on social media, humorously captioned with “Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in…” Though not warmly received by conservatives, Mace’s spokesperson clarified that the post was not a veiled campaign move.
Mace’s post sparks mixed reactions
It was said with affection, from someone who knew him well enough to know he’d have laughed first and loudest.’ In a three-week primary sprint, Evette would bring significant statewide name ID and a projected floor of 30 percent support, which could prove critical to victory on such a short timeline. The vacancy for South Carolina’s Senate seat was created by the unexpected and sudden passing of Graham, which was announced on Sunday morning by his office just after 2:00am Eastern time. Per a statement issued by Graham’s office just before 5:00pm EST on Sunday, ‘Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease,’ was the cause of his ‘sudden’ passing. ‘The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,’ Graham’s spokesperson added in the statement. A 911 call for ‘cardiac arrest’ was placed from Graham’s residence around 8.30pm on Saturday evening.
