Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Newly appointed Senator Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, released her first campaign ad days after his funeral, opening by thanking supporters for their prayers during her family's grief before pivoting to her policy pitch, declaring "every life is precious," that "men don't belong in women's sports," and that "only American citizens should vote in our elections," closing with her formal candidate approval line. The ad, funded by her own Senate campaign, was released as she seeks a full term in the August 11 Special Republican Primary to permanently hold the seat Governor Henry McMaster appointed her to following her brother's death, and it leans on Donald Trump's endorsement while introducing her to a South Carolina electorate where recent polling shows nearly half of likely Republican primary voters have no opinion of her yet.
Graham faces a competitive field that includes Representative Ralph Norman, who has continued his campaign despite Trump's endorsement of Graham and has drawn support from Senators Rick Scott and Mike Lee, along with Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Representative Russell Fry, and a super PAC called Security is Strength has already launched a $900,000 ad campaign backing her candidacy separately from this spot.
This is part of Jim Heath's Campaign Ads '26 project, building a permanent public archive of 2026 campaign ads, the money behind them, and the attacks voters may never see in their own state.
Newly appointed Senator Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, released her first campaign ad days after his funeral, opening by thanking supporters for their prayers during her family's grief before pivoting to her policy pitch, declaring "every life is precious," that "men don't belong in women's sports," and that "only American citizens should vote in our elections," closing with her formal candidate approval line. The ad, funded by her own Senate campaign, was released as she seeks a full term in the August 11 Special Republican Primary to permanently hold the seat Governor Henry McMaster appointed her to following her brother's death, and it leans on Donald Trump's endorsement while introducing her to a South Carolina electorate where recent polling shows nearly half of likely Republican primary voters have no opinion of her yet.
Graham faces a competitive field that includes Representative Ralph Norman, who has continued his campaign despite Trump's endorsement of Graham and has drawn support from Senators Rick Scott and Mike Lee, along with Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Representative Russell Fry, and a super PAC called Security is Strength has already launched a $900,000 ad campaign backing her candidacy separately from this spot.
This is part of Jim Heath's Campaign Ads '26 project, building a permanent public archive of 2026 campaign ads, the money behind them, and the attacks voters may never see in their own state.
