Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is staying on the sidelines for now in the race to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), declining to throw his weight behind any candidate in the increasingly crowded GOP primary.
“I’m not endorsing at the moment,” Thune told reporters Monday, sidestepping pressure to pick a favorite in a contest that has drawn national attention. Thune, as the top Senate Republican, typically plays a key role in rallying party support for candidates, but he is keeping his powder dry as the field takes shape.
The race was triggered by Graham’s death last month, and his sister, Darline Graham, was sworn in last week to serve out the remainder of his term. She announced Monday that she would run for a full term, following a social media post from President Trump saying he had encouraged her to do so. Thune praised her as “a strong candidate” but stopped short of an endorsement, noting she faces questions about her political experience.
“I mean, I think she’s obviously carries on Lindsey’s legacy, but I think she’s a very accomplished person in her own right,” Thune said. “She has a right, like anybody else, to get into that race, it sounds like there are a number who are moving forward with campaigns.”
Darline Graham has worked in multiple roles at state agencies and in the private sector helping people with disabilities find jobs, but critics argue she lacks the political heft for a permanent Senate seat. Thune’s measured response reflects the uncertainty, as other Republicans line up to challenge her.
Field Expands Rapidly
Reps. Russell Fry (R-S.C.) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) have already announced runs or expressed interest, and a recent poll shows no clear front-runner in the race, underscoring its wide-open nature. The special primary is set for Aug. 11, with a runoff later that month if necessary. The eventual GOP nominee will face Dr. Annie Andrews, a Democratic pediatrician, in the November general election.
Thune’s noncommittal stance mirrors a broader trend of GOP leaders treading carefully in primaries, especially with Trump’s influence looming large. The president’s endorsement of Darline Graham has already reshaped the race, but Thune’s decision to hold back suggests he is waiting to see how the field settles before committing.
The South Carolina contest is one of several high-profile Senate races this cycle, and Thune’s role as majority leader makes his eventual endorsement a potentially decisive factor. For now, he is leaving the door open, as candidates scramble to build support ahead of the August primary.
