Nancy Mace eyes Senate bid after Lindsey Graham's sudden death

WASHINGTON, DC: Within 24 hours of Senator Lindsey Graham's death, the race for his South Carolina Senate seat was already underway, with Nancy Mace eyeing a bid for the seat.

Senator Lindsey Graham died from a “brief and sudden illness” on Saturday, July 11, at the age of 71. He entered the US Senate in 2003, representing South Carolina.

Rep Nancy Mace weighs replacing Lindsey Graham

Firebrand conservative Rep Nancy Mace is eyeing a bid for Senate to fill the vacancy left by South Carolina Sen Lindsey Graham’s sudden death, according to two people familiar with her thinking.

As per Politico, the sources provided details in a private discussion on condition of anonymity.

Mace's team is expected to begin polling her prospects as South Carolina Republicans prepare to nominate a new candidate for the seat ahead of November's election.

As per sources, she still has money in her federal campaign account from her past runs for Congress, which is why she is beginning her exploratory bid this week.

Mace gave up her US House seat in South Carolina's 1st District to run for governor but lost the contest, finishing fifth in the primary. State Attorney General Alan Wilson won the nomination.

Mace is set to vacate her coastal House seat early next year. Her political future was uncertain following her loss in the primary, but the newly open seat offers her a lifeline to extend her tenure in Washington.

Mace could face opposition from President Donald Trump, with whom she has clashed over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and other issues.

Trump previously backed one of her rivals in the South Carolina governor's race, and two Trump allies said those disagreements are already being discussed privately as Republicans consider who should succeed Lindsey Graham.

Trump hints he knows Graham's likely successor

While no official statement has been made, President Trump indicated that he knows who will replace Lindsey Graham. However, he has refused to reveal the name.

“I have somebody that I think would be great, but I don’t want to say it now because it just, you know, it’s too soon with Lindsey,” Trump told NBC’s 'Meet the Press'.

“They’ll have some people joining. Some are good, some are bad,” he said. “I never thought I’d be in this position. I thought Lindsey was going to be living forever … He was going to win by a lot.”