Darline Graham Tests Famous Name Against Experience Gap in South Carolina Senate Primary/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Interim Sen. Darline Graham is testing whether her family name and Trump’s endorsement can overcome concerns about her experience. Graham has spent much of the shortened campaign in Washington, leaving better-known Republican rivals to dominate the trail. The crowded South Carolina special primary could lead to an Aug. 25 runoff.
Quick Look
- Darline Graham was appointed to replace her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
- Lindsey Graham died after suffering a tear in his aorta.
- South Carolina Republicans will vote Tuesday in a special primary.
- President Donald Trump has endorsed Darline Graham.
- The National Republican Senatorial Committee is advertising on her behalf.
- Her rivals include Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman and former Gov. Mark Sanford.
- Graham has held only one public campaign event.
- She says she has remained in Washington to fulfill her Senate duties.
- Some voters admire that decision, while others question her qualifications.
- Graham supported changing filibuster rules to pass voting legislation.
- An Aug. 25 runoff is likely if no candidate wins a majority.
Deep Look
Darline Graham’s sudden rise faces its first electoral test
FLORENCE, S.C. — Darline Graham was largely unknown outside her family and professional circles until she was appointed last month to replace her late brother, Lindsey Graham, in the U.S. Senate.
Now she is asking South Carolina Republicans to elect her to the seat in Tuesday’s special primary, testing whether a respected family name and support from President Donald Trump can overcome questions about her political experience.
Many Republican voters express admiration for Graham personally while remaining uncertain about whether she is ready for an elected Senate term.
“I think Darline’s wonderful,” said Kathy Bustos of Mount Pleasant after attending a Republican candidate forum.
That positive impression, however, has not secured Graham her vote.
“I think it’s a very nice gesture for her to have the rest of his term to complete, but I’m not sure that she’s really qualified or ready to be elected to the Senate,” Bustos said.
The concern is common among Republicans considering how to replace Lindsey Graham, who had been nominated for a fifth term before dying from a tear in his aorta.
A famous name but limited political experience
Darline Graham often appeared alongside her brother throughout his long political career, but she remained largely outside South Carolina’s close-knit political establishment.
While Lindsey Graham was unmarried and internationally recognized, his sister led a relatively private life with her husband and daughters in Lexington, South Carolina.
Her professional background includes years in state government, where she worked with people with disabilities. She also served as head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
That experience gave Graham familiarity with public service and state administration, but she has never built the electoral record or public political profile of her principal Republican opponents.
Some voters see her interim appointment as an appropriate way to honor her brother while maintaining continuity until the November election. Others distinguish between serving temporarily and winning a full term.
Trump and Senate Republicans back Graham
Graham has received endorsements from Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, giving her powerful institutional support in the shortened race.
The Senate Republican campaign organization is airing television advertisements supporting her candidacy.
Trump’s endorsement could be particularly influential in conservative South Carolina, where Republican primary voters have generally remained loyal to the president.
During a televised debate, Graham backed Trump’s proposal to change Senate filibuster rules to make it easier to pass strict proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting.
She has also promised to support the president if elected.
In a video message to Republicans at a Greenville event, Graham said she would be “a great friend and ally” to Trump and wanted to “earn your vote.”
Experienced Republicans crowd the primary field
Graham faces several opponents with established political résumés and greater familiarity among South Carolina voters.
The field includes U.S. Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, along with former Gov. Mark Sanford.
All three appeared Friday at a meeting of the Fourth District Republican Club in Greenville. Graham did not attend in person, instead sending a prerecorded video explaining that she was “in Washington working hard for you.”
The large field makes it more difficult for any candidate to secure a majority in Tuesday’s primary. If no one reaches that threshold, the two leading contenders will advance to a runoff on Aug. 25.
The compressed campaign calendar has given candidates only a few weeks to introduce themselves, build organizations and persuade Republican voters.
Senate duties keep Graham away from campaign trail
Graham’s interim Senate service has become both a central argument for her candidacy and a potential political disadvantage.
She has spent most of the campaign in Washington, saying her responsibility as a senator requires her to remain for votes and legislative business.
Her supporters argue that fulfilling those duties demonstrates a commitment to South Carolina that should take priority over campaigning.
“She committed to not missing votes or not being there to push forward with those bills,” said Teresa Castrinos, who drove several hours from Bluffton to attend a candidate event in Florence. “I feel like she’s putting South Carolina first. She’s wanting to fulfill her time as a senator right now, so I really admire her for that.”
Charles Brentnell of Greenville County, who remained undecided, also approved of her decision to stay in Washington while the Senate was meeting.
“Let’s keep the Senate at the Senate instead of taking a month off for no good reason,” he said.
But Graham’s absence has limited her opportunities to meet voters and distinguish herself from opponents with years of political and campaigning experience.
A notably limited public campaign
Graham’s only public campaign appearance so far was a candidate forum in Lexington.
She participated in one of two televised debates but did not speak with reporters afterward. While her opponents answered questions from the assembled media, Graham walked past and offered a thumbs-up when asked how she thought the debate had gone.
A second debate was scheduled while Graham was working in Washington on Tuesday. Her campaign emphasized that organizers had selected the date despite knowing about the senator’s conflict.
Compared with her famously talkative brother, Graham has avoided informal exchanges with reporters in the corridors of the Capitol and has not regularly fielded questions at campaign stops.
She has given extended interviews to Fox News personalities Sean Hannity and Trey Gowdy, both of whom delivered eulogies for Lindsey Graham during memorial services in July.
She has also granted two interviews to local news organizations.
The restrained media strategy has allowed Graham to emphasize continuity, service and her relationship with Trump. But it has offered voters relatively few opportunities to evaluate how she would perform as an independently elected senator.
Voters weigh continuity against change
Some South Carolina Republicans draw a clear distinction between supporting Graham’s temporary appointment and electing her to a full term.
Gigi Bray of Charleston said it was appropriate for Graham to occupy her brother’s seat temporarily but argued that the state now needs a more experienced official.
“I think it’s a great honor for her to hold her brother’s spot till November, but it’s time for a change,” said Bray, who supports Sanford. “I don’t think she has a lot of government experience, and I think right now, with the state of our country, I think it’s very important that somebody has experience.”
Tuesday’s result will indicate whether Graham’s name, Trump’s backing and her brief Senate service outweigh those concerns.
It will also determine whether Republican voters want continuity with Lindsey Graham’s political legacy or prefer one of several candidates with an established electoral record.
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