Republican Senators Express Uncertainty Over New South Carolina Senator Darline Graham Nordone
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Senate colleagues and South Carolina Republicans say they are still learning the policy positions of newly sworn-in Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, who has pledged to pursue her own agenda separate from her late brother’s legacy.
Senate leaders and local party officials said they are still assessing the policy outlook of newly sworn-in Sen. Darline Graham Nordone of South Carolina. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, the Republican second-in-command, acknowledged he has not yet discussed each issue with her.
Jeff Davis, chair of the Greenville County Republican Party, told Politico that “anybody really knows who she is quite yet,” adding that she is “her own person and different than Lindsey Graham.” He said Republicans are willing to give her a chance to prove herself.
In her inaugural statement, Graham Nordone emphasized that she is “not Lindsey” and will follow “her own way of doing things.” While she initially supported a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, she later indicated a focus on domestic issues, contrasting with her brother’s emphasis on foreign policy.
Graham Nordone co-sponsored the Senate version of the SAVE America Act, a voting-integrity measure aligned with President Donald Trump’s agenda.
“The American people are demanding immediate action from Congress on election integrity. That’s why the SAVE America Act is the first bill I am cosponsoring in the Senate,” she said in a statement.
President Trump has publicly endorsed her, describing his support as “complete and total” and urging her to run for a full term in the upcoming election, despite two House Republicans announcing a primary challenge.
“During her visit, I asked Darline, for the Good of our Nation, to run for the U.S. Senate,” Trump wrote. “I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey.”