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You are here: Home / Senate / Trump Seen as Kingmaker for Graham Senate Seat

Trump Seen as Kingmaker for Graham Senate Seat

July 13, 2026 at 5:26 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Punchbowl News: “Trump may be the kingmaker in picking Graham’s successor. The president’s endorsement is always influential for Republicans, but it’s especially valuable in elections with a compressed timeline.”

”South Carolina GOP Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint someone to serve out the remainder of this year’s term. There will also be a special primary election to determine the Republican candidate for the general election. The winner there is up for a full six-year term in November.”

”McMaster could appoint a caretaker to serve out this year. Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, has been mentioned as one possible choice. McMaster will have to act with speed.”

Fox News: Graham’s death ignites GOP scramble for Senate seat as Trump hints he already has a favorite.

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Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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