Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters told Newsmax on Wednesday that most in the party mourn the loss of Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
On "American Agenda," he also said that Graham's death over the weekend "creates an opportunity for us to elect a MAGA [Make America Great Again] warrior, and I think that's exactly what we're going to do."
Gruters said it's a critical seat that won't be left to chance.
"South Carolina is a Republican state," he said. "We need to put our best foot forward and have a super conservative take Senator Graham's spot."
He said there is little doubt that President Donald Trump will be actively involved in the process.
"All you got to do is look at what President Trump has done in some of these primaries," Gruters said. "He's gone out and endorsed a candidate, and they go right to the front of the line. I expect that to happen here."
Gruters said a solid conservative will take over that Senate seat.
"I expect us to have a new MAGA warrior ... that will help us pass bills like the SAVE America Act and other things that promote the president's agenda," he said.
Gruters had high praise for Graham, who died Saturday at age 71, but expects more than Graham's level of support for the president in the new senator.
"I think South Carolina deserves somebody who represents the president and the president's agenda and who will push that forward," he said. "And some of that includes what Senator Graham has pushed in the past, and some maybe not. I think we have a real opportunity to get a super MAGA warrior. We don't get these opportunities all the time."
The GOP national chair said he expects to get what he wants.
"This is a Republican state. We deserve, and I think the South Carolina and the country want to see South Carolina put up the most conservative, most trusted, loyal warrior that the president can get," he said.
Gruters added that Americans are increasingly left with stark differences between the two major parties, with Democrats "putting in these radical leftists that fundamentally want to change the country, almost do like a coup."
The race to become the Republican nominee for South Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat accelerated this week after President Donald Trump publicly praised Rep. Russell Fry, suggesting the second-term lawmaker could emerge as the early favorite to succeed Graham.
Fry is widely expected to enter the Aug. 11 special Republican primary to determine Graham's permanent successor.
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