Darline Graham, who was appointed to fill the remaining six months of her brother Senator Lindsey Graham's term, is indicating a divergence from his political stances, particularly concerning the Senate filibuster.
President Donald Trump recommended Darline Graham for the seat after Senator Graham's death on July 11, and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed her. She was sworn in on July 14. A special election is currently underway to select a Republican nominee for the November election.
Initially, the appointment of a close family member was seen as a way to maintain continuity, with the expectation that Darline Graham would vote in line with her late brother's positions and retain his staff. However, she has announced her intention to run in the primary and appears to be playing for the full term, stating her willingness to support the elimination of the filibuster.
Darline Graham expressed her differing view on the filibuster during a recent South Carolina Republican debate, stating, "This is where I differ from my brother: getting rid of the filibuster to get this done. Because eventually the Democrats are going to get rid of it anyway." She plans to support the "Save America Act," a piece of legislation favored by President Trump that includes measures such as requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship for voter registration nationwide.
The filibuster, a procedural tool in the Senate, requires a three-fifths majority of senators (60 out of 100) to end debate on a bill and move it to a final vote. It has historically been viewed as a safeguard against controversial legislation and a mechanism for ensuring broader consensus. Senator Lindsey Graham himself advocated for its preservation, stating in 2022, "The pride of the Senate is that to pass bills, you've got to get some buy-in from the other side to keep wild shifts from happening in American politics."
Historically, the filibuster has been used by various factions to block legislation, including civil rights bills in the mid-20th century. Strom Thurmond, a predecessor to Lindsey Graham in the Senate, famously held the floor for over 24 hours in an attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957. In more recent times, the threshold for invoking cloture, which ends debate, was lowered from two-thirds to 60 votes in 1975.
The filibuster's role has been a recurring point of contention. During the Biden administration, the opposition of two Democratic senators prevented the passage of several bills supported by their party. Republicans, under leaders like Mitch McConnell, have also altered filibuster rules, notably eliminating it for Supreme Court nominees in 2017 after Democrats had previously removed it for appeals court judges.
Lindsey Graham, a close ally of McConnell, had consistently opposed efforts to change the filibuster rules. He co-signed a letter with Senate Democrats during Trump's first term pledging to uphold the filibuster. His sister's stated intention to support its elimination marks a significant departure from his long-held position.
While Darline Graham argues that Democrats will eventually eliminate the filibuster, her willingness to do so now, in contrast to her brother's stance, represents a notable shift. Early polling suggests she is leading the general election race in a multi-candidate field, but her potential victory could be accompanied by what one observer called the destruction of her brother's legislative legacy.