|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
by MARK POWELL
***
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.
***
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.
***
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.
***
SOUND OFF…
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to address proactively? We have an open microphone policy! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.
9 comments
He’s a good little Trumpie stooge isn’t he?
Sure is! Trump might want to take zinc vitamin supplements. With so many South Carolina politicians wanting to guzzle his man milk, he will be working hard to keep up with the demand.
I’m starting to believe everyone is corrupt, from the floor up! These stooges I once respected…but no more. And Trump’s endorsement of the political die-nasty’s needs to stop. Love Trump but he needs to stay in DC and out of State issues and allow “We the People “ decide the course of our future.
And Fry supporters? He should be cooked after this…throwing SC citizens under the bus, not once, but twice.
Many of us are disgusted. Fry was a RINO in the statehouse now he’s a great leader in DC? These people do not represent SC or the citizens. They are all paid for by special and corporate interest and big money. Our govt is corrupt from DC down to the local level.
Well, looks like this seals the deal …..
It’s a good opportunity to end the political career of Neanderthal Norman.
Yes, but it will create a bigger monster with another damn Graham glued to our Senate seat.
Something unusual with this picture I have noticed; for many years now, it has been an unwritten rule that South Carolina US Senators must be sexually ambiguous males. Has Lindsey’s passing finally broken that spell?
Y’all could solve all these issues by electing Dr Annie Andrews. I know Will thinks no Democrat has a chance in SC, but he certainly doesn’t help by totally ignoring Democratic candidates. Dems have great people running. Besides Annie Andrews, we have Jermaine Johnson for governor, John Vincent for Fry’s house seat that Fry has totally ignored, and Sylvia Wright for Superintendent of Education. I’d like to know why Will has not had any interviews or stories about these candidates, before I cancel my subscription. Personally, I’m bored with the nonstop Murdaugh crap and the upstate law enforcement corruption.
Hilarious, vote for a pediatrician who thinks it’s perfectly fine to trans young kids. Good one. She’s sick. Something is mentally wrong on the left