Donald Trump’s decision to leap into the conversation over who should be the Republican nominee for the Senate seat left open by Lindsey Graham’s death has the GOP leadership in South Carolina fuming.
According to a report from Politico, the president’s sway after he pushed for the seat to be filled by Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, is about to be put to the test now that she has announced she wants to be the nominee in November’s midterm election.
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Nordone’s announcement came riding on the president’s backing, which historically would have deterred serious challengers from entering the race.
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Instead, this time Republicans smelled blood in the water.
Nordone’s problem is that she’s a political unknown, Politico reported. Voters don’t know how she’d vote, what she believes, or whether she’s qualified beyond her family name. Even Republicans who initially supported her appointment as a tribute to Graham’s legacy have soured on her candidacy.
“Even folks that didn’t like Senator Graham or didn’t vote for him in the primary were pretty happy about the appointment, as a tribute to Senator Graham,” CJ Westfall, chair of the Dorchester County GOP, told Politico. “But once we saw the president jump in and support her, 95 percent are saying, ‘What the hell are we doing here? We don’t know how she votes. We don’t know what she believes.'”
A major fight is already underway. Rep. Russell Fry, one of Trump’s most loyal congressional allies, announced his candidacy Monday. He joins Rep. Ralph Norman and self-funding businessman Mark Lynch, who previously lost to Graham in the primary. Former Gov. Mark Sanford and Lt. Gov. Pam Evette — who recently lost her gubernatorial bid despite Trump’s endorsement — are also considering runs.
Trump’s endorsement losing its magic is a seismic shift within the GOP. His picks have typically dominated primaries, yet recent losses suggest cracks are forming in his armor. Evette’s gubernatorial defeat, combined with Trump-backed losses in Iowa and Georgia governor’s races, demonstrate that his endorsement no longer guarantees victory.
“I think people saw [Trump’s] endorsement of Pam Evette and her terrible performance and know this race could be up for grabs like the gubernatorial was,” one Republican operative granted anonymity confided to Politico.
The report noted, “While Graham’s candidacy will test the power of Trump’s direct endorsement, there’s no question the MAGA movement is still the dominant force in South Carolina politics: All Republicans in the race are running as unapologetic supporters of the president, competing among themselves to prove who is the most authentic champion of Trump’s agenda.”
Even Norman, seeking Trump’s endorsement, acknowledged the shift in dynamics. “That’s why I ask[ed] him for it,” he told reporters. “I’d rather have it, but it’s up to the people.”
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