Sen. Darline Graham holds campaign event ahead of Senate primary

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., held her first campaign event Monday morning.

Just one day before the special Senate primary to decide who will replace her brother, late Sen. Lindsay Graham on the November ballot.

Channel 9’s Tina Terry asked Darline what sets her apart from other major candidates with far more political experience.

Graham says her lack of political experience could actually be the very thing that gives her a win on Tuesday.

“The biggest thing that sets me apart from the other two talk candidates is their politicians. I’m not going to talk about them,” Graham said, “You know, sometimes politicians are in there for a while, but can you look at what have they actually done? I think that’s why people want a fresh change.”

Graham says voters want to elect someone who can lead effectively but also relate to real people.

“I do have experience, but I think we’ll apply to what I’m doing,” Graham said, “The transferable still exists. I know how to problem solve. I know how to manage. I ran a state agency for seven years. I started from a struggling agency into a national model. So I bring experience to the table. I’m just not a politician.”

Darline stepped in a month ago to fill her brother’s seat. Now she says that she and her brother have the same heart of service and core convervative values but she will have different priorities.

“He spent 33 years in the Air Force. So that’s where his experience and love for the foreign relations and national security came from,” Darline said, “I don’t have the military experience. My experience is running a state agency, is understanding the struggles of South Carolinians. I’ve struggled for several years just like everyone else has. So I’m more about the affordability because I know how it feels to have to work paycheck to paycheck.”

Graham is the only candidate with President Donald Trump’s endorsement. She said she looks forward to working with him in his last two years in office.

You can learn about who is on the ballot with Channel 9’s candidate guide. Watch Channel 9’s election coverage Tuesday night as the results come in.

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