Appointed Senator With No Prior Office Faces Runoff After National Security Stumble

Darline Graham, appointed in July 2026 to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's Senate seat, had never run for or held public office before her appointment. In a runoff debate against Congressman Ralph Norman ahead of the August 25 GOP vote, Graham said, "I'm not that informed on national security" and "National security is not my thing." Some Republicans expressed concern.