‘Trump threw us all a curveball’: South Carolina Republicans are stewing about Lindsey Graham’s old Senate seat

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Darline Graham to run for a full Senate term in South Carolina has sparked mixed reactions among local Republicans, with some viewing it as a "backroom deal" and others concerned it undermines a potentially open primary.
• Despite Trump’s backing, Graham faces a crowded nine-person GOP primary field, including prominent candidates like Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, as well as former Governor Mark Sanford, indicating the endorsement has not deterred competition.
• Graham, who was appointed to fill her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham’s seat, is expected to emphasize her own political identity and focus on domestic issues, contrasting with her brother’s foreign policy emphasis.
• Several GOP leaders and operatives in South Carolina criticize Trump’s strategy, suggesting he is receiving poor advice and risking failure in a state that has previously rejected some of his endorsements.
• Graham benefits from significant institutional support, including Senate GOP leaders and a major super PAC funded by Lindsey Graham’s leftover campaign funds, while her opponents highlight their conservative credentials and established records.