Rep. Russell Fry, who finished third in the South Carolina special Republican U.S. Senate primary, has publicly backed Sen. Darline Graham ahead of the Aug. 25 runoff, framing his move as a unity play to preserve conservative gains and ensure a fighter for President Trump in the Senate.
Fry made his endorsement clear in a social media post this week and tied it to the broader goal of keeping the Senate aligned with conservative priorities. “President Trump needs fighters and allies in the Senate who will show up every day and get results. I believe Darline Graham will be exactly that,” Fry said in part of a Friday on X. The message was short, direct, and aimed at consolidating support behind the candidate seen as most likely to carry the fight forward.
He leaned on personal character and life experience as reasons to transfer his backing. “Darline knows what it means to struggle, persevere, and keep fighting when life deals you a difficult hand. Those experiences shaped her, and I believe they give her a real understanding of the challenges families across South Carolina face,” he continued. That line was meant to highlight a practical empathy voters respond to and to contrast readiness with mere name recognition.
https://x.com/RussellFrySC/status/2088287552381841440
Fry urged his supporters to move quickly to back Graham and framed the runoff as the next step in a collective effort. “On August 25, I’m asking everyone who supported our campaign to join me in supporting Darline Graham for the United States Senate. Campaigns are temporary. The cause is bigger than any one candidate. Now let’s get it done,” he noted. His appeal emphasized unity over lingering divisions, pitching the runoff as a chance to lock in a reliable conservative vote.
Republican voters in the state will now choose between Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman, who finished second and forced the Aug. 25 head-to-head contest. Norman had a solid base in the primary, but endorsements like Fry’s aim to shift momentum and present a united front behind the endorsed candidate. For many conservatives, the calculus is simple: pick the candidate most likely to preserve GOP Senate priorities and deliver results in Washington.
Darline Graham’s path to this moment included a gubernatorial appointment to finish a term left open, a move that thrust her into the spotlight and set the stage for the special election. Her ties to the late senator add emotional weight for some voters, while her supporters stress her readiness to carry forward conservative policies without delay. That narrative has been a core talking point for the campaign as it tries to convert sympathy and recognition into votes.
President Trump, who backed Graham during the primary, is reinforcing that support heading into the runoff and aiming to keep conservative momentum intact. “SOUTH CAROLINA: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR DARLINE GRAHAM ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH. DARLINE HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” he wrote in a Friday Truth Social post, which included an image of Fry’s post on X endorsing Graham. The president’s message is meant to make the choice clear for voters seeking continuity and a bold conservative voice.
The coming days will test whether endorsements translate into turnout and whether the candidates can sharpen their messages for a head-to-head contest. Voters will be weighing character, conservative fidelity, and electability, and campaigns will be focused on mobilizing every available supporter. In a state that has trended reliably conservative, the runoff is where grassroots energy and high-profile backing collide to determine who will carry the banner to Washington.
