Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., is focusing her campaign for the long-term Senate seat on issues of inflation, rising grocery prices, and economic relief for South Carolina families. As the state's special election approaches, Graham aims to forge her own political identity while continuing the legacy of her late brother, Lindsey Graham, who served three decades in the Senate.
"I think Lindsey was an amazing senator," Graham said on "Fox & Friends." "His interest was foreign relations and national security, as we know. And while national security is really important, I'm a little different..."
Unlike her brother, who was known as a leading foreign policy hawk, Darline Graham stated her focus would be on the financial pressures affecting South Carolina families. "I want to focus on the struggles of the South Carolina families because, like them, I feel those same struggles," she said.
Graham noted that voters frequently raise concerns about the cost of gas, groceries, and healthcare. She shared personal experiences, including her daughters' health issues and her own habit of bargain shopping, to illustrate how these economic pressures impact her and other South Carolinians. "If the steak's not on sale, I don't buy it that week. I look for the buy one, get one free sale, so I think, like most South Carolinians, I live the struggles here, too, and we have to get the economy booming and cut government spending in order to get the prices down."
Graham is one of ten Republicans competing in Tuesday's special election. Her entry into politics followed her brother's unexpected death in July. She acknowledged the demanding period of grieving, adjusting to her new role in the Senate, and campaigning simultaneously. "Over the past three weeks, I've buried my precious brother. I've learned the new role in the United States Senate. I'm on this brutal campaign trail with a brutal schedule," she stated. "And I'm still standing."