Darline Graham admits she is 'not that informed on national security' during South Carolina Senate debate

Published Aug 19, 12:53 PM UTC

During a South Carolina Senate runoff debate, candidate Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, gave a widely criticized performance. When asked by a moderator whether Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security issues for the United States, Graham admitted she was 'not that informed on national security' and said it was 'not my area of expertise,' though she expressed support for the military. Her opponent, Representative Ralph Norman, provided a detailed answer about Taiwan as an ally and the importance of deterring China. Graham also mistakenly claimed South Carolina's population was 50 million, when it is actually 5.6 million. The debate performance drew sharp criticism online, with journalists and commentators calling it disqualifying and highlighting that being related to a former lawmaker is not a qualification for the Senate.