Trump urged Darline Graham to run for Senate. Days later, she’s in the race

What was expected to be a temporary appointment is suddenly shaping up to be one of the biggest

Senate races of the year. Just days after being sworn in to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's

seat, Senator Darlene Graham says she's running for a full six-year term. Her appointment last

week was widely viewed as a short-term solution after Lindsey Graham's death. But that changed

Friday when President Trump publicly urged her to run. On Truth Social, Trump posted

For the good of our nation, I asked Darlene to run for the U.S. Senate. Run, Darlene, run

Graham made the announcement in an interview on Fox News last night with Sean Hannity

I've been, I'll continue to say I've been praying a lot, talking to my family. I feel like I can do it

I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes, absolutely

So you're inclined to get in, or have you even made a final decision

I've made a decision. Her decision to run is setting up what could be a crowded Republican primary

One potential challenger is already out. Congresswoman Nancy Mace announced she will not enter the race

I'm not running for the U.S. Senate, not because I'm backing down from a fight

but because the one I'm already in matters right now. That still leaves Republican Congressman Russell Frye and Ralph Norman in the race

Frye is already pitching himself as Trump's strongest ally in the Senate, writing on X on Monday

I will be President Trump's favorite U.S. senator and you will have a MAGA fighter you can count on

Candidate filing opens today. The Republican primary is August 11th. And in deep red South Carolina, the GOP nominee will be heavily favored to win the seat this fall