Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, shared her political goals during an interview with “Hannity” on Monday. She announced her candidacy for a full Senate term in November.
“He’s worked so hard for so long. I can’t just let that die. I’ve got to step in and carry on his legacy,” Graham stated, marking her first public address since Lindsey’s death. “I know he cared about the people of South Carolina deeply. He worked hard for them. I feel like I can do that too. He taught me well,” she added.
Sen. Darline Graham Discusses Election Plans on ‘Hannity’
Darline Graham Nordone delivered a press briefing outside the governor’s South Carolina State House office in Columbia. Following Lindsey Graham’s passing on July 11, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline to complete her brother’s Senate term until January 2027.
Graham became the first female U.S. Senator from South Carolina. During a conversation with Fox News, she mentioned feeling an “inner peace” about serving as her brother’s successor representing The Palmetto State.
“It is a tremendous amount of pressure,” she said. “I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it.” Unlike Lindsey, who was deeply concerned with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Darline plans to emphasize domestic issues over foreign policy, focusing on local concerns in South Carolina.
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“I used to see him on the talk shows. I’d think, ‘Lindsey, are you always talking about national security?’” she explained. “I understand its importance—protecting our borders and national security matters. But also talk about what affects everyday people: the price of groceries, gas, health care, and insurance. Those are my concerns.”
Lindsey Graham passed away suddenly on July 11 at age 71. His death was due to an aortic dissection related to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. “It’s been tough, extremely tough,” Darline Graham shared with host Sean Hannity.
“He was everything to me. My rock, my brother, and almost a parent,” she said.
Since 2019, Graham has led as a commissioner for South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind, managing a $90 million budget. This organization aids individuals who are blind or visually impaired in finding employment.
“It was a passion of mine, but I have a servant’s heart,” she said. “A role like that demands a servant’s heart.”