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Inside the Final Days of Darline Graham’s Reluctant Senate Run
The Wall Street Journal ^ | Oct. 31, 2026 9:00 pm ET | Josh Dawsey |

Posted on 11/01/2026 9:42:06 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

Trump pushed the late-Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister to run for his seat, in a race that has become surprisingly close

ROCK HILL, S.C.—Darline Graham had just been sworn in to finish her late brother’s Senate term this summer when she was in the Oval Office trying to coax President Trump to support Lindsey Graham’s Russia sanctions bill.

Trump was reluctant, but her brother had been obsessed with the bill, Graham said in an interview. Graham told the president that he could blame a grieving sister for any fallout. Trump chuckled and told her, “You’re tough.” She said it was then that Trump asked her to run for the full six-year term, something she said she hadn’t previously considered.

Trump later halted most of the sanctions, leaving Graham privately disappointed. Her fate in South Carolina was now tied to the president’s.

Public and internal polls show Graham tied with, or trailing, her Democratic rival, Dr. Annie Andrews, making the Palmetto State competitive in a way it hasn’t been for decades. In the first two weeks of October, Graham raised less than $600,000, while Andrews, a pediatrician and gun safety advocate, raised $4.5 million. Andrews has also picked up endorsements from some of the state’s prominent Republicans, including former Gov. David Beasley.

On Thursday, Trump traveled to this South Carolina town about 30 miles south of Charlotte, N.C., to rally support for Graham. Several thousand showed up, but part of the large arena was blocked off, leaving much of it empty.

“It’s just been absolutely brutal,” Graham said in an interview, referencing how she lost her brother and has competed in three...

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: randspam; southcarolina; tds
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Being the sister of a US senator qualifies you to be a US senator. Everybody knows that.
1 posted on 11/01/2026 9:42:06 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
ChatGPT Article Summary
2 posted on 11/01/2026 9:44:36 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("The EU is the old Soviet Union dressed in Western clothes." --Mikhail Gorbachev)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

To be blunt—if this seat is lost President Trump has nobody to blame but himself.

Hopefully he will be a man about it and (if appropriate) acknowledge his blunder.


3 posted on 11/01/2026 9:47:45 AM PST by cgbg (Four seconds is all it takes to beat the brainwashing.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Reluctant? Come on. Talk about ‘candidate quality’. We’re not using our heads but Trump may think we’ve got it in the bag. Hope he’s right. At least she’s not Megan wanting to be appointed to Kamala’s seat-Jeezuz!

If Darlene wins she’ll be good for 2 terms provided she does a decent job bringing the party together. Ralph Norman is 72, same age as Lindsay when he dropped. We don’t need wannabe gimps in those 6 year seats.


4 posted on 11/01/2026 9:52:13 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: cgbg

She will win and won’t be close. But the bigger issue is who is she and what policies does she actually support? The right thing to do would be stick her in as a placeholder and let an established known quantity run for the full 6 year term.


5 posted on 11/01/2026 9:54:28 AM PST by Tipllub
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Any Republican who doesn’t vote for Graham doesn’t see the wood for the trees.

A Senator has ONE JOB: vote on things. Which candidate is going to vote the way you want in the Senate, that is the ONLY thing that matters. Frankly, who cares about character, when it comes to Senators? It’s why we vote for Paxton, over Cornyn, because even though Paxton may have character issues, he will vote the way we want him to in DC.


6 posted on 11/01/2026 9:59:25 AM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Being the sister of a US senator qualifies you to be a US senator. Everybody knows that.


Being the wife of a President qualifies you to be a US senator. Being the brother of a President qualifies you to be a US senator. Being a community organizer qualifies you to be a US senator. Being the owner of a bookstore qualifies you to be a US senator. Being the ‘close friend’ of Willie Brown qualifies you to be to be a state attorney general, US senator, US vice president, and President of the US. Everybody knows that.


7 posted on 11/01/2026 10:01:27 AM PST by hanamizu
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
--- "Being the sister of a US senator qualifies you to be a US senator. Everybody knows that."

What an amusing Alaskan, Murkowski-like comment.

Being ".... a person must meet three legal requirements: be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and a resident of the state they represent at the time of election."

1,2 and 3 conditions all met.

We're supporting the Republican ticket across the board, and specifically because we -- the missus and I, and residents of the State of South Carolina -- are vehemently against the Democrat ticket. Period.

8 posted on 11/01/2026 10:18:32 AM PST by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

Thank you for alerting us to your moral, intellectual and political superiority. We would not have known otherwise.


9 posted on 11/01/2026 10:22:32 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("The EU is the old Soviet Union dressed in Western clothes." --Mikhail Gorbachev)
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To: cgbg

Yes, it will. And no, he won’t.


10 posted on 11/01/2026 10:25:16 AM PST by GrootheWanderer
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Graham told the president that he could blame a grieving sister for any fallout. Trump chuckled and told her, “You’re tough.” She said it was then that Trump asked her to run for the full six-year term, something she said she hadn’t previously considered.

Until now I assumed you had to compliment him to get his support. It's far worse. Apparently it's just a whim.


11 posted on 11/01/2026 10:26:25 AM PST by ArcadeQuarters (You can't remove RINOs by voting for them!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
---- "Thank you for alerting us to your moral, intellectual and political superiority. We would not have known otherwise."

Nothing of the sort. Your " sister of a US senator qualifies you" was snide, citing the rules does not prove me anymore "intellectual" than you, and as to "political superiority," Free Republic at least used to be a rather consistently conservative site.

You support your state-resident Republicans. We'll support ours.

12 posted on 11/01/2026 10:27:43 AM PST by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time
You support your state-resident Republicans. We'll support ours.

Where did I tell you not to do that?

13 posted on 11/01/2026 10:44:39 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("The EU is the old Soviet Union dressed in Western clothes." --Mikhail Gorbachev)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Every one knows that it doesn't disquialy them. We can only make a sound assessment once we see how she votes as to her being qualified, in our opinions. Those opinions may be unsound. The WSJ proclamation holds no sway with me whatsoever. They have been consistently wrong on issues regarding immigration, as well as, Trump's leadership.

The voters made the choice for her to be their candidate. You along with the WSJ disaproving of the choice that the voters picked, and basing it upon biases that are held by many voters & political pundentsthat had issues with Lindsey Graham himself or in this case with Trump's endorsement of her. Even I held those disagreements with Lindsey. But he was not in reality a bad Senator. The voters in S.C. sure kept retruning him to that office.

14 posted on 11/01/2026 10:50:51 AM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: Robert DeLong

If she’s such a great choice, why are you so hypersensitive about it?


15 posted on 11/01/2026 10:54:34 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("The EU is the old Soviet Union dressed in Western clothes." --Mikhail Gorbachev)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time
We're supporting the Republican ticket across the board, and specifically because we...are vehemently against the Democrat ticket.

Well said.

Politics is a team sport. On the football field support the team and perform the role of the position you play or get off of field; save your disagreements with the quarterback and any other player for the practices and the locker room.

In other words, sort it out in the local process leading up to the primaries, before game day.

The anti-MAGAs, following the lead of Obama et al, have learned this lesson veery well.

16 posted on 11/01/2026 11:35:05 AM PST by frog in a pot (If your preference is not on the ballot, do yourself a favor and vote against the worst candidate.)
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To: cgbg

Usually, I find some wisdom in your posts. This thread, however, reads more like commentary on a wrestling match.

I figure that South Carolina has to be “weird”, or it wouldn’t have kept giving us Lindsey Graham in the Senate. I simply think that Trump doesn’t need a fight for this seat, anymore than he needed to fight with Lindsey Graham. Graham’s sister was the easy way out. She might also owe him something, of course, as Lindsey never would.

I do expect Trump to be a “man” about this - and NEVER admit he was wrong. There would be no point in it.


17 posted on 11/01/2026 11:57:13 AM PST by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
I'm not hypersensitive at all.

But while we are at ai, hHow do you know she is as bad as you imagine her to be? You don't and neither does the WSJ which I condier to be a rag on par with The Washington Compost, and the New York Slimes, both are sources theat you post too often, along with the WSJ, as far as I am concerned.

They are merely offering their opinion, and that opinion is what you also believe. That opinion is obvious that it is derived merely from the fact that she is the sister of a Senatr that died suddenly in office, because that is always the argument put forth under the guise of qualifications.

You both may be absolutely correct, but you both have the same odds of being completely wrong as well.

The voters spoke, for her to be their candidate. At this point I pray she wins and that she exceeds expectations, for that is what I currently see as the best outcome for this nation.

It has nothing to do with any more or any leass than what is best for this nation. I personally do not know what kind of Senator she will be, but in all honesty, some Senators who have spent decdes in their terms as a Senator I fail to see their qualifications, let alone their desire to do hat is bes t for this nation.

I also saw no indications from her stint to finish off her brothers term that makes me believe she is unquaified. She will obvious have a learning curve, and I believe she has the capability of picking that needed learning, if she hasn't already gotten it completely.

What are the qualifications you hold that make one qualified to be a Senator, beyond what the Constitution stipulates which qualifies her?

My test is common sense and a love for this nation where country is placed above the Political Party they serve under. With those attributes they might possibly becone great addidtions in the effort to save this nation from the radicals who hate this nation. I also pray that the Lord helps with her learning the ropes to become a great & effective Senator for the conservative movement.

On the other hand you and the WSJ trash here without any real evidence as to what she may provide this nation with, that may not be the qualifications that you both perceive as being important.

So, whay are you so hypersensitive that my opinion doesn't share your opinion? I see no value in your opinon on this person, period.

Get used yto it, because I will not hesitate to shatre my opinion, just as you share your opinion. However, I will also agee, when our opinions are in sync.

BTW, heree is another site that will download large videos from Youtube, Instagraham, Twitter (X), Vimeo, Facebook & TikTok. In addition, it finds videos that are similar that you can download as well:

Free Online Video Downloader

I know not what the limit is since I have never hit what that limit might be if there is a limit, but is has pulled down videos that run into 11 hours+. I thought you might find it useful. Always good to have a backup site also.

18 posted on 11/01/2026 12:09:43 PM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: hanamizu

“Being the wife of a President qualifies you to be
a US senator.........and a presidential candidate.”


When the Clintons surfaced they kept their political plans
for Hillary top secret.....she was obviously raring to go.

After a bit, it seemed like they were on two different tracks.....
Hillary even had her own press conferences.... training on our dime.

Significantly, one Hillary press conference was held at the same time Bill
was holding a presidential press conference......meaning they did not communicate.

Hillary up and did anything she wanted to prep herself for higher office.


19 posted on 11/01/2026 12:09:49 PM PST by Liz (“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies the work of His hands. " (Psalm 19:1))
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To: Robert DeLong

Graham will vote conservative 90 percent of the time. Andrews will vote conservative 0 percent of the time.


20 posted on 11/01/2026 12:12:14 PM PST by Theodore R. ( )
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