President Donald Trump endorsed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC), to replace him permanently in the Senate.
Nordone was sworn in this week as a temporary replacement after her brother died unexpectedly last weekend of a suspected aortic tear.
But in a social media post on Friday, Trump said he asked Nordone during her trip to the White House this week to run as a Republican candidate in a special primary election prompted by her brother’s death, which is scheduled to take place on Aug. 11.
“I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey,” he wrote. “Darline, who comes from an absolutely incredible family, has been a WINNER all of her life and, should she accept, has my Complete and Total Endorsement in the Special Election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN. RUN, DARLINE, RUN!”
SOUTH CAROLINA GOP PRIMARY WILL END IN REPLACEMENT NOMINEE FOR LATE SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM
In the post, Trump also reflected on his relationship with Graham Nordone, whom he has known “for a long time.”
“She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot,” he wrote. “Lindsey was one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, and his sister shares his deep love of our Country, and the State of South Carolina.”