S.C. Succession: Russell Fry Endorses Darline Graham

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by MARK POWELL

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It’s now official. All of the heavy hitters within the S.C. GOP have now lined up behind interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone. Word of Congressman Russell Fry‘s endorsement Friday morning made it a fait accompli.

“Darline knows what it means to struggle, persevere, and keep fighting when life deals you a difficult hand,” Fry said in a statement issued on Friday (August 14, 2026). “These experiences shaped her, and I believe they give her a real understanding of the challenges families across South Carolina face.”

With Fry’s backing, the bulk of South Carolina’s Republican establishment is now in almost total lockstep with her. She has received the endorsements of U.S. senator Tim Scott, congressman William Timmons and lieutenant governor Pamela Evette.

Additionally, president Donald Trump and U.S. Senate majority leader John Thune are also rooting for Nordone to replace her brother in November’s election for a full six-year term.

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The one telling exception is governor Henry McMaster, who has not explicitly announced his backing. He appointed Nordone to the position on July 13, just one day after the unexpected death of her brother, the late Lindsey Graham. McMaster’s public reticence is fueling buzz that he may bestow his backing during a campaign trip to South Carolina by Trump, if such a visit occurs.

Trump and Lindsey Graham had a rocky relationship during the former’s first term; those tensions eased during the former’s exile in the Biden administration years, and the two had grown more cordial recently. Trump is sad to be personally enthusiastic about Nordone’s candidacy.

Her opponent in the August 25 runoff election, Congressman Ralph Norman, has lined up his own array of VIP backers. Foremost among them is former governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley (who was quoted earlier this week as saying she was “all in” for him), outgoing Congresswoman Nancy Mace, U.S. Sens. Mike Lee and Rick Scott, former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, and former rival Upstate businessman Mark Lynch.

As this news outlet reported earlier, if Fry can deliver the 19.66% of the vote her received in Tuesday’s special primary to Nordone, it could be a decisive factor in the August 25, 2026 runoff election between her and Norman.

Whichever Republican candidate wins the nomination next week will go on to face Democrat Annie Andrews in the November 3 general election.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

J. Mark Powell is an award-winning former TV journalist, government communications veteran, and a political consultant. He is also an author and an avid Civil War enthusiast. Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? Email him at mark@fitsnews.com.

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