MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) 鈥� President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to South Carolina on Friday to make a last-minute appeal for Sen. Darline Graham, his chosen candidate to replace her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, ahead of a next week.
Voters will decide Tuesday whether Graham or Rep. will be Republicans’ nominee on the November ballot.
The Myrtle Beach rally is the sort of campaign trail occasion that Trump hasn鈥檛 done as much of this year, compared with past midterms, making it a signal of the importance Trump is placing on a win for his pick.
It’s also an opportunity for the president to wade into friendly territory ahead of the midterm elections that leave his party鈥檚 control of Congress hanging in the balance. South Carolina hasn鈥檛 elected a Democrat statewide in decades, its House delegation has only one Democrat and Trump鈥檚 own victory in the 2016 presidential primary here helped propel him toward the nomination and ultimately the White House.
In the scramble of a that was called after Lindsey Graham’s sudden death last month, Darline Graham was picked by Gov. Henry McMaster 鈥� also a Trump ally 鈥� and entered the special primary . The president had said he told McMaster that appointing her would be a 鈥渇abulous tribute to Lindsey,鈥� although the governor pointed out that he asked Graham to serve 鈥渋n the wee hours鈥� after her brother’s death, adding that Trump 鈥渢hought it was a great idea鈥� when he later told him of his pick.
The president pressed 鈥淩UN DARLINE, RUN鈥� on social media, and gave her his 鈥淐omplete and Total Endorsement鈥� before she’d her campaign. And at every turn on the campaign trail, she’s reminded voters of this anointing, as well as her commitment to advancing his priorities if elected. On the eve of the primary two weeks ago, he held a tele-rally for Graham.
Trump also considered Lindsey Graham a close ally and friend, though they ran against each other in 2016 and had their ups and downs, so part of the visit is personal for Trump. He eulogized his longtime golfing partner and wartime consigliere at last month.
Like Trump, Darline Graham has portrayed herself as a political outsider
Graham has stressed that she’s 鈥渘ot a politician,鈥� as she’s hurriedly introduced herself to voters across the state. Regularly touting her support for Trump鈥檚 policies, as well as his endorsement, she has pointed to her years heading up a state agency, as well as her weeks on the job in the U.S. Senate, as evidence of her readiness.
Saying she鈥檚 鈥渁nswering President Trump鈥檚 call to serve,鈥� she has repeatedly said she wants 鈥渢o fight for President Trump鈥檚 agenda鈥� and cited his core goals of border security and passing the SAVE Act voting bill as among her top priorities.
Graham has said she’s focused on kitchen table issues like gas prices and household spending rather than international affairs. Earlier this week, after related to Graham defended herself as 鈥渘ot a polished politician up here.鈥�
Trump has made no comment on the gaffe, which garnered attention after Graham told moderators, “National security is not my thing.鈥�
Trump’s rally will be in Myrtle Beach, a conservative 鈥� and growing 鈥� area
By meeting voters in Myrtle Beach, both Trump and Darline Graham are aiming to capitalize on a growing part of the state that’s known to be deeply conservative, loyal to Trump and full of new residents.
It’s also the home district of Rep. Russell Fry, the House ally whose name Trump had floated as an 鈥渙utstanding鈥� possible replacement for Graham after the senator’s death. with Trump’s help, Fry ousted a five-term GOP congressman who had voted to impeach Trump a year earlier.
Running in the Senate primary, Fry touted his support for and previous backing from the president, but was hampered by the absence of it in this race. Finishing third, a calculated move for the 41-year-old, two-term congressman, who, dating to the origins of his 2022 election, has seen the ramifications for some Republicans who have crossed Trump.
___
Meg Kinnard can be reached at
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
