South Carolina Rep. Russell Fry enters race to succeed Sen. Graham

by · UPI

July 20 (UPI) -- South Carolina Republican Rep. Russell Fry announced Monday that he is running for the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Fry is throwing his hat in the ring with a host of other Senate hopefuls, including the late Senator's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, a candidate with no history in government who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

Trump endorsed Fry to unseat Rep. Tom Rice in the 2022 Republican primary after Rice voted to impeach him for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

"There is no other way to put it: Lindsey Graham was one of a kind," Fry said in a statement. "There is no replacing him. But I believe the best way to honor his legacy is to fight alongside the President just as steadfastly as he did."

While Fry pursues the Senate seat, he is continuing to campaign to hold his seat in Congress.

Others who have launched campaigns for Graham's Senate seat include attorney Duke Buckner, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and businessman Mark Lynch.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, has appointed Nordone to serve out the rest of her brother's term that ends at the end of the year. Graham won the Republican primary last month.

A special Republican primary will be held on Aug. 11. Candidates can officially file to run in the primary beginning Tuesday.

This week in Washington

President Donald Trump delivers a prime-time address to the nation from the East Room of the White House on Thursday. Pool photo by Saul Loeb/UPI | License Photo

Read More