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President Donald Trump has made his choice to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., but some Republicans eyeing his seat aren’t concerned.
A handful of contenders vying for the GOP nomination in August who have seized the reins from Graham have already announced their intentions to enter the race, even as Trump has thrown his support behind Sen. Darlene Graham, R-S.C., Graham’s sister, widely seen as his replacement for the remainder of his term.
Trump on Friday, after meeting with Graham in the Oval Office, announced his “total and complete approval” of her participation in the presidential race.
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President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., July 16, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
“I have asked Darlene, for the good of our nation, to run for the United States Senate in the special Republican primary on Tuesday, August 11, 2026,” Trump said. “I hope Darlene does this because no one can better honor the legacy of her beloved brother Lindsey.”
She has yet to commit, and Trump’s coveted support hasn’t stopped Rep. Ralph Norman, businessman Mark Lynch, or the latest to intervene, Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., from entering the fray.
Most notably, just last week, Trump praised Fry as someone to watch. He also spent time talking with White House staff about the bid, and Trump’s support seemed all but guaranteed.
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A source in Frye’s political orbit told Fox News Digital that the lawmaker has “accomplished more than all the potential candidates combined” by passing three bills in his first four years in Congress.
“This is really about giving voters a choice, not about a coronation,” they said.
Still, Frye isn’t running away from Trump. In his campaign announcement, Frye noted, “Of the many things Lindsey Graham believed in, supporting President Trump and advancing the Republican agenda were among his defining principles.”
“There’s no other way to put it: Lindsey Graham was one of a kind,” Frye said. “There is no replacement for him, but I believe the best way to honor his legacy is to fight alongside the president as steadfastly as he did.”
At least during this cycle, supporting Trump hasn’t proven to be a safe bet.
South Carolina Republican consultant Dave Wilson told Fox News Digital: “South Carolina voters want to have a choice, not be told who they should vote for.”
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Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., arrives for a House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington on May 13, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
“The president’s quick endorsement of Darlene Graham was very symbolic,” Wilson said, but added, “We see in South Carolina that his support didn’t carry as much weight as people thought.”
Wilson was referring to Trump’s endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Pamela Yvette ahead of last month’s GOP gubernatorial primary.
Yvette received the most votes in the primary, but lost in the subsequent runoff election to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson by a landslide. And Trump, always hungry for victory, supported both Wilson and Yvette a few days before the second round.
Veteran Republican strategist and communicator Ryan Williams told Fox News Digital that supporting Trump is “a big boost to any candidacy, but it doesn’t necessarily give you a leg up in office.”
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Just because Trump endorsed Graham doesn’t mean others shouldn’t run, Williams said. He noted that Senate seats in South Carolina open rarely, and that when the opportunity arises, challengers should take advantage of it.
“If you are seeking to become a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, now is your time to run regardless of who the president endorses,” Williams said.
“There are no downsides to running,” he continued. “They will all run as Trump Republicans, and they will all flatter the president on the campaign trail.”
Alex Miller is a Fox News Digital correspondent covering the U.S. Senate.