Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) said she is not well-informed on national security during a Republican runoff debate last Tuesday [1, 2].
The comments raise questions about the candidate's readiness to handle foreign policy responsibilities in a U.S. Senate seat formerly held by her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died [1, 3].
During the event on Aug. 13, Graham was asked about potential threats in the South China Sea and Taiwan [2, 3]. She declined to answer the specific question, saying that national security is "not my thing" [2].
Graham said, "I'm not that informed on national security" [3]. The debate serves as a critical juncture for the interim senator as she seeks to secure the seat in the runoff election [1].
While Graham expressed a lack of expertise on the subject, some allies have suggested she possesses inherited knowledge. Sean Hannity said Graham probably knows everything about the Middle East because her brother went there [4].
Graham did not provide a detailed alternative plan for national security during the exchange, opting instead to emphasize her lack of familiarity with the topic [2, 3].
“"National security is 'not my thing.'"”
Graham's admission marks a significant departure from the foreign policy focus of her predecessor. By explicitly distancing herself from national security issues, she may be attempting to pivot her campaign toward domestic concerns or acknowledging a gap in her experience that opponents could exploit in the final stretch of the runoff.
