US Rep. Russell Fry endorses Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina Republican Senate runoff

US Rep. Russell Fry endorses Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina Republican Senate runoff 1 of 6 | A first-time candidate who was always close to her brother, Lindsey Graham’s political orbit, Darline Graham overcame skepticism about her lack of experience in her campaign to replace him. 2 of 6 | Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks with reporters after advancing to a special GOP Senate primary runoff to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) 3 of 6 | Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., leans over to hear a reporter’s question following at a candidate event for hopefuls vying in a special Republican primary to replace her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on November ballots, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Florence, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) 4 of 6 | Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks with voters following a Senate candidate stump event ahead of a special GOP primary to select a replacement for her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, in Lexington, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) 5 of 6 | Republican State Rep. Russell Fry addresses a crowd in Florence, S.C., March 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File) 6 of 6 | U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., listens to an audience question at a campaign event for Republicans vying in a special Senate primary to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) 1 of 6 A first-time candidate who was always close to her brother, Lindsey Graham’s political orbit, Darline Graham overcame skepticism about her lack of experience in her campaign to replace him. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 6 | Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks with reporters after advancing to a special GOP Senate primary runoff to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) 2 of 6 Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks with reporters after advancing to a special GOP Senate primary runoff to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 6 | Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., leans over to hear a reporter’s question following at a candidate event for hopefuls vying in a special Republican primary to replace her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on November ballots, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Florence, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) 3 of 6 Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., leans over to hear a reporter’s question following at a candidate event for hopefuls vying in a special Republican primary to replace her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on November ballots, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Florence, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 6 | Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks with voters following a Senate candidate stump event ahead of a special GOP primary to select a replacement for her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, in Lexington, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) 4 of 6 Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks with voters following a Senate candidate stump event ahead of a special GOP primary to select a replacement for her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, in Lexington, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 5 of 6 | Republican State Rep. Russell Fry addresses a crowd in Florence, S.C., March 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File) 5 of 6 Republican State Rep. Russell Fry addresses a crowd in Florence, S.C., March 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 6 of 6 | U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., listens to an audience question at a campaign event for Republicans vying in a special Senate primary to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) 6 of 6 U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., listens to an audience question at a campaign event for Republicans vying in a special Senate primary to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Columbia, S.C. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Russell Fry endorsed Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina’s Republican Senate primary runoff, saying on Friday that she should replace her late brother on general election ballots because of her ability to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda and her understanding of everyday people’s struggles.Fry finished third in a special primary held Tuesday, when Graham and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman advanced to the Aug. 25 runoff. His backing follows that of other powerful Republicans who have supported Graham, including Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Trump, whose early endorsement helped propel his own congressional career.“President Trump needs fighters and allies in the Senate who will show up every day and get results,” Fry said in a news release. “I believe Darline Graham will be exactly that.”Graham’s brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, died suddenly last month. Darline Graham, was appointed to serve out the remainder of his current term, then opted to run for the seat, winning the biggest share of votes but not the majority needed to avoid a runoff. The special primary, which took place just a month after Lindsey Graham’s death, meant a compressed and sometimes chaotic campaign for the 10 candidates who ran to replace him. Much of the most heated rhetoric volleyed back and forth between Fry and a political action committee supporting Darline Graham, which ran ads pointing out that Trump — who initially said Fry would be an “outstanding” pick for the seat — passed him over to back Graham instead. 3 MIN READ 4 MIN READ 4 MIN READ Graham’s brother was a top Senate ally for Trump, to whom she has also closely tied herself in her campaign. Both Fry and Graham have often mentioned their humble origins as a touchpoint for understanding kitchen table issues, something Fry noted he had in common with Graham. “Darline knows what it means to struggle, persevere, and keep fighting when life deals you a difficult hand,” Fry said of the 62-year-old Graham, who had a hardscrabble upbringing and was ultimately adopted by her older brother after their parents died when she was young. “Those experiences shaped her, and I believe they give her a real understanding of the challenges families across South Carolina face.”Trump had stumped for Fry in his first House campaign in 2022, when the state lawmaker ousted a five-term GOP congressman who had voted to impeach Trump a year earlier. Matt Gorman, a GOP strategist and former senior adviser to Scott, suggested that Fry’s endorsement of Graham was a political calculation for the 41-year-old, two-term congressman, who has seen the ramifications for some Republicans who have crossed Trump.“Russell is a smart guy with a long career ahead of him,” Gorman said. “It makes zero sense to get crosswise with either President Trump or Tim Scott. If he wants to, Fry will get another shot at the seat because Graham or Norman won’t be there multiple decades.”The GOP runoff’s winner will face Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews in November’s general election. No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades.