U.S. Rep. Russell Fry endorses Sen. Darline Graham in GOP runoff

The winner will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November. The election marks the first open U.S. Senate race in 22 years in South Carolina.

Graham and Norman advanced to the runoff after receiving 33% and 25% of the 334,880 ballots cast, respectively, according to the state Election Commission.

“President Trump needs fighters and allies in the Senate who will show up every day and get results. I believe Darline Graham will be exactly that,” Fry said in a statement.

Graham already boasts the presidential endorsement.

President Donald Trump surprised political insiders with his “complete and total endorsement” of the political newcomer last month, urging her to run for a full, six-year term.

Fry, too, had been a staunch Trump supporter.

The four-term state House member rose to Congress in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Then U.S. Rep. Tom Rice voted in favor of impeaching Trump over his role in inciting rioters, who entered the Capitol building in an effort to prevent lawmakers from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. Fry criticized Rice for his vote and challenged him in 2022.

Trump endorsed Fry in that race and Fry went on to defeat Rice in the primary by more than 26 percentage points.

On the other hand, Trump and Norman have had a rockier relationship after Norman endorsed former Gov. Nikki Haley over Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

While Graham was by her brother’s side on the campaign trail in recent years, she was never a candidate herself. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to fulfill the remainder of her brother’s term following his unexpected death. The appointment made her South Carolina’s first female U.S. senator.

Ahead of the special election, Norman and Fry, who each have years of experience in the Statehouse and on Capitol Hill, knocked Graham for being an unknown.

However, on Friday, Fry joined other high profile Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, who officially endorsed Graham as she tries to consolidate GOP support.

“Darline knows what it means to struggle, persevere and keep fighting when life deals you a difficult hand,” Fry said in a statement. “Those experiences shaped her, and I believe they give her a real understanding of the challenges families across South Carolina face.”

Scott, who is also the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, backed Graham the day after the special primary, calling her “the real deal.”

On the other hand, Upstate businessman Mark Lynch, who placed fifth in the Senate race endorsed Norman.

Support from Fry, who lives in Murrells Inlet and won the Grand Strand and the rest of the 7th District he represents in the special primary, could swing those voters in favor of Graham.

Norman took 10 Upstate counties while Graham won the rest of the state.

“I am extremely honored to have earned the endorsement of Congressman Russell Fry,” Graham said in response to the endorsement. “Considering the respect that the Pee Dee has for Russell and his team, I am excited to continue building a conservative force to fight for President Trump’s America First agenda.”