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Darline Graham in SC debate
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Sen. Darline Graham said she's "not that informed on national security" in a South Carolina debate. The remark could hurt her runoff bid against Rep. Ralph Norman.
Background
Darline Graham is running in a Republican primary runoff to succeed her late brother, Lindsey Graham, in the U.S. Senate. During a debate on August 18, 2026, she was asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea and admitted she wasn't well-informed on national security, a remark that drew criticism from her opponent and the Democratic nominee.
How it unfolded
- Jul 14, 2026Darline Graham took office as the fill-in senator for her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
- Aug 18, 2026In a debate against Rep. Ralph Norman, Graham said she was "not that informed on national security" when asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea.
- Aug 19, 2026The remark drew criticism from Norman and Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews, who said South Carolina deserves better.
- Aug 25, 2026The runoff election is scheduled to take place.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Graham said she supports the military and later told reporters that South Carolinians are more worried about their pocketbooks than the South China Sea.
- Opponent
- Norman criticized Graham's lack of knowledge, arguing he would defend South Carolina's interests even if it meant breaking with the president.
- Democrat
- Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews wrote that Graham is asking for six years as senator during wartime yet says national security isn't her thing.
Still unverified
Trump has not weighed in on the debate, though he has endorsed Graham.