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Rep. Russell Fry enters race to replace late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham

Washington Times · back to the audit
Republican Rep. Russell Fry said Monday he's jumping into the special election to replace the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, putting him on a potential crash course with newly appointed Sen. Darline Graham Nordone — Mr. Graham's sister — who is endorsed by President Trump.

"South Carolinians need a conservative fighter in the U.S. Senate who actually delivers results," Mr. Fry, 41, said in a statement. "There's too much at stake to take a chance, so I'm answering the call. I will be your conservative MAGA candidate in this summer's special Republican primary for the United States Senate."

His entry adds to a growing field that already includes Rep. Ralph Norman, Duke Buckner and Mark Lynch. Republicans will pick their nominee in the Aug. 11 special primary ahead of November's general election.

Mr. Fry represents South Carolina's 7th District and has aligned himself with Trump‑leaning conservatives in the House. His decision to enter the race adds a well‑known statewide figure with an existing political network to the contest.

Ms. Nordone, meanwhile, has quietly signaled she's considering a run for a full Senate term. She was sworn in Tuesday to fill the vacant seat after Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to serve out the remainder of her brother's term, which runs through January 3, 2027.

"I asked Darline, for the Good of our Nation, to run for the U.S. Senate in the Special Republican Primary on Tuesday, August 11, 2026," Mr. Trump said on Truth Social last week. "I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey."

Mr. Graham had held the seat since 2003.

The 71‑year‑old senator died earlier this month after emergency workers were dispatched to his Capitol Hill home. The D.C. Medical Examiner's Office issued a preliminary finding of "aortic dissection due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease."

Memorial services for Mr. Graham are scheduled later this month in South Carolina and in the nation's capital.