Trump Backing Divides Race
Russell Fry Enters SC Senate Primary, Facing Trump-Backed Nordone and Shifting Loyalties
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Key Points
1
An Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media poll last week showed Ralph Norman leading the field at 16.4% support, with Mark Lynch above 12% and 17.9% of respondents undecided.
2
Darline Graham Nordone, Lindsey Graham’s sister, was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to finish Graham’s term, and President Trump has endorsed Nordone for the full term, signaling a Trump-backed path in the race.
3
Fry has not yet received an endorsement from President Trump, according to reporting on the race, underscoring a split in Trump-aligned support among candidates.
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Fry is built as a strong fundraiser, having raised about $1.4 million in the last year and holding more than $1 million in cash on hand as of June 30.
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Trump previously endorsed Fry in 2022, when he defeated then-Rep. Tom Rice in the primary, highlighting a history of alignment with the former president.
U.S. Rep. Russell Fry jumped into the race for South Carolina's open Senate seat on Monday, announcing his campaign to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham The Hill. Filing opens July 21, and the Republican primary is set for Aug. 11 Newsmax.
The race is already crowded — and complicated. President Trump has endorsed Darline Graham Nordone, Graham's sister, for the full term, while Fry has not yet received Trump's backing in this contest Notus.
Fry Runs on Trump Alignment Without Trump's Nod
Fry is pitching himself as a MAGA ally focused on gas prices, grocery costs, and border security. His stated campaign pillars include standing with Trump, securing the border, ending the fentanyl crisis, and fighting for farmers and rural communities Notus. But the key Trump endorsement in this race belongs to someone else.
Trump previously backed Fry in 2022, when Fry defeated then-Rep. Tom Rice in a Republican primary The Hill. That history gives Fry credibility in MAGA circles. Still, Trump's public support for Nordone puts Fry in an awkward spot — running in Trump's lane without Trump's blessing.
Nordone Holds Trump's Endorsement and Graham's Legacy
Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone to finish her brother's Senate term after Graham's sudden death. Trump then endorsed her for the full term, giving her a powerful political lift Newsmax.
Nordone's status as Graham's sister could shape loyalties inside the South Carolina GOP. A Trump endorsement in a deep-red state like South Carolina carries enormous weight. If Nordone stays in the race, she enters as a formidable opponent — backed by both the Trump brand and a family legacy Notus.
Norman Leads a Wide-Open Field in Early Polling
An Emerson College Polling and Nexstar Media poll showed Rep. Ralph Norman leading the field at 16.4% support. Mark Lynch came in above 12%. A full 17.9% of respondents said they were undecided, underscoring how unsettled the race remains Yahoo.
The field also includes Duke Buckner. With filing not yet open and several candidates still weighing their options, analysts describe the contest as wide open. No single candidate has broken away, and Trump's endorsement pattern could reshape the race before the Aug. 11 vote The Hill.
Fry's War Chest Gives Him a Real Fundraising Edge
Fry raised about $1.4 million in the past year and held more than $1 million in cash on hand as of June 30 Notus. That kind of money matters in a fast-moving special election with a compressed timeline.
Fundraising strength could help Fry run ads, build a ground game, and stay competitive even without a Trump endorsement. In a crowded primary with an undecided electorate, a well-funded campaign can make up ground quickly — especially if the Trump-backed lane stays split The Hill.
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