Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC), the sister of late-Sen. Lindsey Graham, said in a debate against Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) that she’s “not that informed” on national security.
“Are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States? If so, why?” the senator was asked.
“I’m just going to be honest here; I’m not that informed on national security,” she responded.
“But I do support the military. My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years, so I will do everything I can to support the military. My dad was in the Army. I’m not a polished politician up here. National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military,” she continued.
Norman offered his response after Graham Nordone’s statement.
Watch below:
Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) is asked at #SCSen debate about Taiwan and the South China Sea: "I’m just going to be honest here; I’m not that informed on national security, so — but I do support the military. My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years…I'm not a polished… pic.twitter.com/c6WsSjWz6C
— CSPAN (@cspan) August 19, 2026
More from The New York Times:
The awkward moment, which prompted boos from the audience, underscored her biggest vulnerability in the race to succeed her brother, the late Lindsey Graham. Ms. Graham has the full support of President Trump, but she lacks the experience of her opponent, Representative Ralph Norman, who easily explained why Taiwan is an economic ally for the United States and worth protecting against China.
On Tuesday night from an opera house in Newberry, S.C., the candidates offered voters a stark contrast in their leadership styles. Aside from the foreign-policy stumble, Ms. Graham appeared poised and portrayed herself as a loyal ally to Mr. Trump. Mr. Norman, the vice chairman of the Freedom Caucus and five-term congressman, flexed his ultraconservative record to argue that he would defend the interests of South Carolinians, even if it meant breaking with the president.
Graham Nordone also mistakenly said that South Carolina had a population of 50 million people.
“There’s 50 million people in South Carolina. Half of them live paycheck to paycheck,” she said.
“If we’re going to talk about the affordability crisis in our state, we should start by knowing that South Carolina has *Checks Notes* 5.5 million people,” Norman responded.
Watch below:
If we’re going to talk about the affordability crisis in our state, we should start by knowing that South Carolina has *Checks Notes* 5.5 million people ✨ pic.twitter.com/qDHItXaH54
— Ralph Norman (@RalphNorman) August 18, 2026
Newsweek shared further:
Graham entered the race with two major advantages: President Donald Trump’s endorsement and name recognition, Republican strategist Doug Heye said on CNN. Trump’s endorsement “is not determinative, and debates are one of the reasons why,” he said.
“The other is her name ID, but it’s her last name ID. They’re learning who Darline is,” he added. “And a moment like this can really spin out of control very quickly.”
Graham has previously sought to distinguish her foreign policy views from those of her late brother, whose more than two decades in the Senate were marked by an outspoken approach to national security.
ADVERTISEMENTHer debate remarks quickly drew criticism from former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who has endorsed Graham’s runoff opponent, Representative Ralph Norman.
“Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States’ national security. Darline Graham admits she’s not,” Haley wrote on X. “This is not something you inherit. And it’s critical in the U.S. Senate.”
Norman called Trump’s endorsement of Graham a “head scratcher” in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday. Following Graham’s debate remarks, Norman said South Carolina “deserves a Senator who UNDERSTANDS foreign policy.”
Norman finished second behind Graham in the 10-candidate August 11 special primary, but neither won enough votes to avoid a runoff.
