Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a Republican critic of President Donald Trump, announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on Thursday, entering a crowded GOP primary field that already includes Trump's endorsed candidate. Sanford's entry underscores that the president's backing has not deterred other high-profile Republicans from seeking the seat vacated by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
In a launch video, Sanford framed his campaign around fiscal responsibility and national debt concerns. "We're at a tipping point, and that's why I've decided to run for the U.S. Senate," he said. "I'd ask that you look at my record in Congress and as governor in watching out for your family's future." Sanford, who served three terms in the U.S. House in the 1990s and later as governor from 2003 to 2011, is known for his conservative fiscal views and his past criticism of Trump.
Darline Graham, the late senator's sister, was appointed last week to fill the remainder of Lindsey Graham's term and announced Monday on Fox News' "Hannity" that she would run for a full six-year term. Her announcement came three days after she met with Trump at the White House, where he gave her his "complete and total endorsement" and encouraged her to enter the race. Despite this powerful backing, several other well-known South Carolina Republicans have also jumped into the contest.
Republican Rep. Ralph Norman, who unsuccessfully ran for the GOP gubernatorial nomination this year, announced his Senate bid over the weekend. Two-term Rep. Russell Fry followed on Monday, describing himself as a "MAGA warrior" in a video that included images of him alongside Trump. Businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to Lindsey Graham by nearly 30 points in last month's GOP Senate primary, also said he would seek the nomination again.
The special Republican primary is scheduled for Aug. 11. If no candidate exceeds 50% of the vote, a runoff between the top two finishers will be held on Aug. 25. The compressed timeline has intensified the race, with candidates scrambling to build name recognition and secure endorsements in a matter of weeks.
Sanford's political career has been marked by both rise and fall. After winning election as governor in 2002 and being reelected in 2006, he gained national attention and derailed his political trajectory with an extramarital affair in 2009. He made a comeback by winning his old congressional seat in 2012 and served three terms before launching a long-shot presidential primary challenge against Trump in 2020. Now, he is positioning himself as a budget hawk concerned about the national debt, which he described as a "financial tipping point."
Unlike Sanford, Fry and Norman are highlighting their alignment with Trump. Fry wrote in a social media post that "South Carolina doesn't need just another senator. It needs President Trump's strongest ally in the United States Senate. Make no mistake: I will be President Trump's favorite U.S. Senator, and you will have a MAGA fighter you can count on." Norman emphasized that he is "running to represent the people of South Carolina in the U.S. Senate because we need a fighter who will stand with President Trump and carry on Lindsey Graham's legacy!" He also pointed to Trump's top legislative priority, the SAVE America Act, as a key reason for his candidacy.
Despite Trump's endorsement of Graham, some conservative allies have broken ranks. Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Rick Scott of Florida, both staunch Trump allies, endorsed Norman, citing his support for Trump's election reform bill. Norman also secured the backing of the political arm of Turning Point USA and Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who announced Monday she would not run for the Senate.
Graham, meanwhile, has garnered support from Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming, who said, "Darline Graham is an excellent senator. She'll continue to be an excellent senator, and she has my full support." Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, however, has remained neutral for now, calling Graham a "strong candidate" but noting she lacks elected experience. Thune said, "She has a right, like everybody else, to get in that race."
With Trump's endorsement and the name recognition of the Graham surname, pundits view Darline Graham as the frontrunner in the three-week sprint to the primary. The winner of the GOP nomination is expected to be the clear favorite against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election in the solidly red state. However, veteran Republican strategist Ryan Williams cautioned that "the Trump endorsement is a major boost for any candidacy, but it doesn't necessarily give you a lock on the seat." He added, "Senate seats in South Carolina do not come up very often, and politics is all about timing. You've got to seize the opportunity."
