{"id":2556,"date":"2026-07-13T15:06:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=2556"},"modified":"2026-07-13T15:06:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:06:56","slug":"trump-says-south-carolinas-governor-should-appoint-grahams-sister-to-finish-his-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=2556","title":{"rendered":"Trump says South Carolina\u2019s governor should appoint Graham\u2019s sister to finish his term"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…<\/strong><\/div>\n
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By MEG KINNARD<\/strong><\/p>\n

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) \u2014 President Donald Trump said Monday he\u2019s recommended that\u00a0Lindsey Graham\u2019s\u00a0sister be named as his temporary replacement in the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n

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Trump posted on social media that Gov. Henry McMaster should appoint Darline Graham Nordone to fulfill the rest of Graham\u2019s term, which expires in January. Graham\u00a0died over the weekend\u00a0at age 71, and McMaster is expected to announce his pick later Monday.<\/p>\n

After their parents died at a young age, Graham was left to raise his sister, whom he later adopted. The pair were very close, and Graham\u2019s sister was by his side as he filed reelection paperwork earlier this year.<\/p>\n

A special election will be held next month to pick a new Republican nominee in the general election for Graham\u2019s seat. He had been seeking a fifth term this year.<\/p>\n

The rare open Senate seat has ignited a scramble among South Carolina\u2019s most ambitious conservatives, who have been eager to climb the political ladder.<\/p>\n

Republicans just finished a sprawling and bruising contest to figure out their nominee for succeeding McMaster, who is wrapping up his second term. State Attorney General Alan Wilson\u00a0won the nomination, overcoming a field that included Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Rep. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman \u2014 all of whom are now eyeing Graham\u2019s seat following his death over the weekend.<\/p>\n

How will a special primary work?<\/h4>\n

According to South Carolina law, a one-week filing period for a special primary election begins on the second Tuesday after the candidate\u2019s death, or July 21.<\/p>\n

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The special primary election would be held on the second Tuesday after that filing period closes, or Aug. 11. Any necessary runoff would follow two weeks after that, or Aug. 25.<\/p>\n

From that point, the new nominee would have just over two months to campaign for the general election on Nov. 3.<\/p>\n

All of this is problematic according to federal law, which requires military and overseas ballots to go out 45 days before any federal election. For the general election primary, that would have been June 27. Federal Election Commission officials didn\u2019t immediately return a message seeking clarity about the process.<\/p>\n

Who could replace Graham?<\/h4>\n

Graham died on Saturday night, and a preliminary medical examiner report said he suffered a tear in his aorta, known as an aortic dissection.<\/p>\n

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In the hours after Graham\u2019s death was announced, South Carolina\u2019s Republican circles were already swirling with rumors about possible replacements. Given the proximity of November\u2019s election, it\u2019s likely that whomever McMaster appoints could be a top contender in the special primary, although it\u2019s possible that McMaster\u2019s choice will only serve as a temporary caretaker.<\/p>\n

Evette, who has served nearly eight years alongside McMaster and received his endorsement in the governor\u2019s race, is one possibility. She lost the June 23 runoff to Wilson.<\/p>\n

A person with knowledge of Evette\u2019s thinking but not authorized to discuss it publicly said that she was getting encouragement from across the state and feels she would have good chances in the special primary.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unlikely that any House member would be appointed to finish Graham\u2019s current term, since Republicans have such a slim majority in the chamber.<\/p>\n

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U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, a rumored replacement, said he assured Trump on Sunday that \u201cmy goal is to remain in the House to keep his two-vote majority for the American people!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

However, that doesn\u2019t mean that House members won\u2019t run for the next full term. A person with knowledge of Mace\u2019s thinking but not authorized to speak about it publicly said she was considering the race. Mace is not running for reelection to the House.<\/p>\n

But another Republican from the state, Rep. Russell Fry, could be a possibility. The two-term lawmaker represents the growing area around Myrtle Beach, and he\u2019s been a top Trump ally.<\/p>\n

A spokesman for businessman Mark Lynch, whom Graham defeated in the primary, didn\u2019t return a message Sunday.<\/p>\n

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who lived in South Carolina before joining the Trump administration, has fielded calls about potentially replacing Graham but doesn\u2019t have interest in the role and enjoys working for the president, according to a person who insisted on anonymity to describe private conversations.<\/p>\n