Darline Graham
About
Based in Lexington, South Carolina · Age 62
Darline Graham is a Republican U.S. Senator from South Carolina, appointed in July 2026 to fill the seat of her late brother, Lindsey Graham. She has never held elected office before, instead building a career in vocational rehabilitation and serving as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. Graham has secured former President Donald Trump's endorsement and is running in the special Republican primary on August 11, 2026.
Commissioner and agency head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind (2019–present)
Public information director for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (by 2015)
Worked in vocational rehabilitation for people with disabilities
Never held elected office prior to Senate appointment
Where they stand
Election Integrity & Reform
“Only American citizens should vote in our elections.” (first campaign ad, released 2026-07-30)
Border Security and Immigration Enforcement
“I'm all for supporting and funding ICE. I support law enforcement. President Trump has done a great job protecting our borders.” (August 3 debate)
Military intervention and war powers
“If they build nuclear missiles, their goal is to come here and kill us. So the more we can fight them over there and prevent it over there, the better for the United States.” (August 3 debate)
Their priorities
Issues Darline is raising that aren't a shared debate across the field.
Russia policy and sanctions
Introduced the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 on 2026-07-16, modeled on her late brother's bill; it advanced on a bipartisan 86-12 procedural vote on 2026-07-28. “There is no greater way to honor Senator Graham's legacy than to move forward with this bipartisan agreement.”
Support
President Donald Trump
President of the United States
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)
U.S. Senator, Senate GOP Conference Chair
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
U.S. Senator, Senate GOP Whip
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
U.S. Senator, Senate GOP Policy Chair
Republican Jewish Coalition
Organization
Money
Outside money: $921K supporting
Others running for U.S. Senator
