YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Darline Graham campaigned in Lake Wylie today, focusing her message on key differences between her record and that of Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews.
Graham was appointed to complete the Senate term of her late brother, Lindsey Graham, and now seeks a full six-year term in the November election.
During her address to voters in Lake Wylie, Graham emphasized her conservative voting record during her initial weeks in office while acknowledging her recent entry into politics.
“I’m not a politician. There are some things I’m still learning, so I’m not going to act like I know everything,” Graham said. “I feel strongly that in my six weeks I’ve been up there, I’ve cast more conservative votes than she would cast in six years.”
Graham also criticized her Democratic challenger’s policy positions. “On issue after issue, any Andrews views are brought out of the Democratic Socialist playbook: massive government, higher taxes and less freedom,” Graham said.
Graham said her decision to seek a full term followed encouragement from President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House.
“The next day I was in the Oval Office meeting with the president. And I walked out of the Oval Office, and I had just agreed to run for six more years. And I’m like, what just happened? But, you know, when the president asks you to do something, it’s kind of hard to turn it down,” Graham said.
Before joining the Senate, Graham served in executive leadership within state government. She cited her management experience as evidence of her capability to serve in elected office.
“I led a state agency, the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. With 130 employees and a $90 million budget. It was struggling when I got there. I turned a struggling agency into a national model,” Graham said.
Andrews campaigned in Rock Hill earlier this month to meet with voters and outline her legislative priorities. Her campaign focuses on economic issues, including efforts to make life more affordable for working families.
In addition to the Senate contest, South Carolina voters will decide the race for the state’s 5th Congressional District in November. Republican Wes Climer and Democrat Mallory Dittmer are running to succeed Rep. Ralph Norman.
Graham and Andrews are scheduled to debate on Oct. 11. The event is the only debate the two candidates have publicly agreed to ahead of the November election.
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