Republican operatives in Washington and South Carolina are voicing doubts behind closed doors that President Donald Trump's endorsement will be enough to carry Darline Graham Nordone across the finish line in November's Senate race.
Nordone — sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and currently serving as his temporary replacement — enters South Carolina's Aug. 11 primary with Trump's backing and a wave of sympathy following her brother's death, but a half-dozen GOP operatives told Axios that combination may not be enough, pointing to three underlying vulnerabilities.
Among them was former South Carolina GOP chair Chad Connelly, who told Axios, "She has a lot of work to do to win over the constituents that she hasn't had the time [to meet] through a grassroots effort."
First, they note the Nordone name is a double-edged sword. Lindsey Graham never fully won over the state's conservative base, wary of his bipartisan dealmaking and past friction with Trump — a skepticism reflected in June's special primary, when he failed to crack 60 percent of the vote against underfunded rivals, and operatives expect his sister to inherit that same ceiling.
Second, despite the family name, Nordone remains largely unknown to voters, still working to build the grassroots relationships that better-known rivals like Rep. Ralph Norman and Rep. Russell Fry have spent years cultivating. Early polling has shown her trailing.
Third, operatives point to South Carolina's deep-rooted resistance to political succession. Voters have twice rejected appointed senators seeking full terms, in 1954 and 1966, and just last month, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette lost her gubernatorial primary despite backing from both Trump and Gov. Henry McMaster — a fresh reminder that presidential endorsements don't guarantee victory in the state.
Notably, several Republicans emphasized that Trump's swift endorsement — issued before any other major GOP leader, including McMaster, weighed in — has only reinforced the perception that Nordone is inheriting the seat rather than earning it.
A Nordone spokesperson pushed back, telling Axios that she is building momentum through her conservative record and understands firsthand how demanding a campaign can be, having watched her brother run for years.
But privately, many in the party remain unconvinced that goodwill and a presidential nod will be enough.
Earlier this week, Nordone outraged Trump's MAGA base when news broke she donated $100 to a Republican lawmaker who helped block a near-total abortion ban in South Carolina.
Nordone's attempt to prove her pro-life bonafides were met with contempt.
"You’re good friends with Katrina Shealy, the former South Carolina state senator who is PRO-ABORTION and OPPOSED the Heartbeat bill," replied Kelly McCarty, a "Covid accountability" influencer. "AND you even donated to her campaign."