Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) voiced support Monday for eliminating the Senate filibuster, while declaring she would stand “100% behind” President Trump during a debate in South Carolina’s Republican Senate primary for her late brother’s seat.
The forum was Graham’s first major political test since launching her campaign barely two weeks ago to succeed her older brother, Lindsey Graham, one of the most influential Republican senators in modern history, who died last month from an aortic rupture.
“One of the first things I did was co-sponsor the Save America Act,” Darline Graham said, pointing to her early work in the Senate. “As I said earlier, I’m willing to stay through recess to get it done. What’s up with recess anyway? Who gets a month off from work?
“I think we should stay up there and work and get it done.”
Graham made clear she is prepared to discard the Senate’s 60-vote requirement in order to advance the Trump-backed voting integrity measure, saying that position goes beyond where Lindsey Graham stood on mandatory voter-ID legislation.
“I am all for – 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 said.
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At Trump’s urging, Graham was sworn into the Senate on July 14, only days after Lindsey Graham’s death. She is set to serve at least the remainder of her late brother’s term, which runs through early January.
Although new to elected politics, Graham was later encouraged by the president to seek a full six-year term and received his endorsement for the race.
“I completely support the president’s agenda. I’m 100% behind him,” Graham responded, when asked how she would reconcile any differences between Trump’s agenda and what’s best for the Palmetto State.
Graham is vying against Reps. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Russell Fry (R-SC), businessman Mark Lynch and former congressman and governor Mark Sanford for the GOP Senate nomination.
She brought a little southern heat to the debate stage after Lynch accused her late brother of supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants and attacking him on the campaign trail.
“Mr. Lynch mentioned Lindsey Graham multiple times, and I don’t know if he’s afraid that Lindsey beat him and now his little sister is going to beat him, but I just don’t like hearing that,” she said in her closing remarks.
The South Carolina GOP Senate primary will be held on Aug. 11.
