South Carolina GOP expresses concern over Trump's endorsement of Lindsey Graham's sister for Senate seat
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Republican leaders in South Carolina said President Trump’s choice of Darline Graham Nordone, the late senator’s sister, for the upcoming special Senate primary was unexpected and raised strategic worries within the party.
South Carolina Republican officials said they were surprised by President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, as the party’s candidate for the upcoming special Senate primary. The endorsement, which turned a temporary tribute into a permanent candidacy, has prompted internal debate about the suitability of the political newcomer for the race.
CJ Westfall, chair of the Dorchester County GOP, told CNN that while the party empathizes with Nordone, the president is receiving "bad advice" and that the GOP has "more exciting options" for the seat. Other state legislators, speaking anonymously, warned that the endorsement could be perceived as a "backroom deal" and that the appearance of a "family Senate seat being passed down" might not resonate with voters.
One lawmaker described the endorsement as a "curveball" that was not welcomed, noting that the fast-track campaign for the Senate seat was already complicated. State Rep. Jordan Pace, who leads the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, said the grassroots base quickly turned against Nordone’s candidacy, adding that internal disputes could jeopardize the party’s chances in the fast-moving primary.
Nordone, who said she never intended to run for office, told a gathering in Lexington that she was honored to answer Trump’s call and intends to "stand up for South Carolina" and support the president’s agenda. The special primary, scheduled for less than a week away, will feature nine Republican candidates competing for the seat previously held by Graham, who had been poised for a fifth term before his death on July 11.