Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) acknowledged she was "not that informed on national security" during a debate Tuesday against Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), one week before the two face off in an August 25 Republican runoff for the Senate seat previously held by her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
Graham was appointed to fill the seat after Sen. Lindsey Graham died last month. The comment came when she was asked whether Taiwan and the South China Sea constitute national security concerns for the United States. "I'm just going to be honest here, I'm not that informed on national security," she said during the debate.
What the Left Is Saying
Norman argued that China poses a threat to the United States and said South Carolina voters should expect their next senator to understand the issue. "Whether it's spy balloons flying overhead or buying up land near South Carolina military bases, China continues to prove that it is a threat to the United States," Norman told The Daily Wire. "South Carolinians deserve to know whether their next Senator has the know-how to lead on this issue."
Former Republican Gov. Nikki Haley also criticized Graham's remark. "Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States' national security. Graham admits she's not," Haley said in a statement. "This is not something you inherit. And it's critical in the U.S. Senate."
What the Right Is Saying
Graham has previously outlined her approach to foreign policy, telling The Daily Wire in a July interview that she preferred to focus on issues that matter to "the average person." Supporters argue she represents a fresh perspective untethered to Washington establishment positions.
President Donald Trump is expected to campaign for Graham on Friday at a rally in Myrtle Beach ahead of the runoff. Trump endorsed her, saying he made the choice "in honor of her brother." "She's really a very smart woman," Trump told reporters. "Lindsey loved his sister more than anything else he would tell me about his sister."
What the Numbers Show
Prediction market Kalshi shows Graham's odds of winning at 77%, down from approximately 90% before the debate. South Carolina has roughly 5.5 million residents; Graham appeared to misstate the figure during the debate, saying "there's fifty million people in South Carolina" while discussing affordability issues.
The winner of the August 25 Republican runoff will face Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the general election for the seat.
The Bottom Line
Graham's comment has shifted the dynamics of the race with one week remaining before the runoff. Norman's campaign has centered on experience and national security expertise as key differentiators. Trump's endorsement provides Graham significant visibility heading into the final stretch of the primary contest, though her debate performance has raised questions about voter priorities in a state where foreign policy traditionally ranks lower than economic concerns.
The outcome will determine who holds Lindsey Graham's seat through at least the remainder of his term and potentially sets up the general election matchup against Andrews.