Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., today endorsed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister, GOP Sen. Darline Graham, in the special election to replace her brother.
Scott’s endorsement came hours after Graham was projected to advance to a runoff in the special election alongside Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and weeks after she was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to fill the rest of Lindsey Graham’s term following his sudden death.
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“If I were going to endorse in the South Carolina GOP Senate primary, I wanted to do so with confidence. After watching Darline Graham in the Senate and on the campaign trail, I’m confident she’s the real deal. Her first-place finish last night was remarkable, but not surprising. She is a conservative stalwart, a hard worker, and represents our beloved state with class, humility, and dignity,” Scott, who also chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, wrote in a post on X.
Graham earned Trump’s endorsement in the race even before she officially launched her campaign. In yesterday’s primary, she faced Norman, Rep. Russell Fry and former Gov. Mark Sanford.
In Scott’s post this morning, he waved at several policy positions that have set Darline Graham apart from her brother — including her decision to call for the abolition of the filibuster in order to pass Trump’s key priorities. Graham’s move came in the wake of criticism that she was running for Senate with no previous political experience besides her brother being a longtime senator.
“I know she is making her brother proud, but Darline has already proven to be her own person: focused on pocketbook issues, defending our South Carolina values, and delivering for the people she represents. Her priorities are our priorities,” Scott added in his post.
The support from South Carolina’s other senator comes among speculation that Trump may make a rare double-endorsement and support Norman, too. The president did so earlier this year in the state’s gubernatorial primary after his preferred candidate in that race advanced to a runoff.