The Dispute Index

Darline Graham

Portrait of Darline Graham
Rosa Pineda, United States Senate

United States Senator and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina.

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina
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What we have documented

We have documented 5 statements by Darline Graham, in 3 cases. Each statement below gives the quotation, its original source and a link to the full case.

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Statements by Darline Graham

Portrait of Darline Graham

Darline Graham

Role at the time: U.S. senator from South Carolina

Mixed or conditional

Statement summary

Graham said she disagreed with the waiver and would keep pressure on Russia, while saying the decision is up to Trump and that they share the same goal.

“Personally, I would choose to keep the pressure on Russia to end the war and get the gas prices down, because I don’t trust Putin and I don’t trust Russia”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Trump doubles down after waiving new Russia sanctions, calling it a 'very good decision' · NBC NewsParagraphs on Trump's remarks to reporters and on Sen. Darline Graham
Why we used this label

The reference point is Trump's waiver of the Graham Act Russia measures. Graham says she would have chosen to keep the pressure on Russia, but she says the choice is Trump's and that they share the same goal.

Read statementFull case: Trump waives the Graham Act's Russia sanctions
Portrait of Darline Graham

Darline Graham

Role at the time: U.S. senator from South Carolina and younger sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died in July 2026

Condemned

Statement summary

Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) told Smith that his office secured a subpoena in May 2023 for the phone records of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and that her brother was kept in the dark. She asked how he could have tampered with evidence that Verizon, not he, held.

“In May 2023, your office secured a subpoena for the phone records of my brother, Lindsey. ... Lindsey was kept in the dark, as were several senators you targeted. ... How the hell was Lindsey going to tamper with evidence he didn't even have in his possession?”
Watch the original video (opens in a new tab)Oversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters (hearing video) · Senate Committee on the JudiciarySen. Darline Graham's remarks and questions to Smith, about 3:35:46 to 3:43:21 on the archived video timeline
Why we used this label

The case asks whether the collection of members' phone records and messages was proper. Graham criticized the subpoena for her brother's records and the nondisclosure order that kept him unaware of it, asking how he could have tampered with evidence held by Verizon. That rejects the collection as improper, so we labeled it Condemned.

Read statementFull case: Were members of Congress's phone records and text messages properly obtained in the Arctic Frost and Jack Smith investigations?
Portrait of Darline Graham

Darline Graham

Role at the time: U.S. Senator, South Carolina

Defended or excused

Statement summary

Darline Graham voted nay on H.Con.Res. 89, a vote against directing the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran.

“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 89: A concurrent resolution directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 244: H.Con.Res. 89, Iran War Powers Resolution (rejected, 49-50)
Why we used this label

Voted against directing the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran, a vote to let U.S. involvement continue without congressional authorization.

Read statementFull case: Do they support the war in Iran?
Portrait of Darline Graham

Darline Graham

Role at the time: U.S. Senator for South Carolina at the statement date.

Mixed or conditional

Statement summary

Graham supports Trump’s conduct of the Iran war but wants all economic options tried before deploying U.S. ground troops.

“I fully trust President Trump when it comes to the war in Iran.”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)Darline Graham and Ralph Norman on Iran at the August 18 debateComplete original release or interview report; date-only timestamp represented at noon UTC
Why we used this label

Relative to U.S. military involvement in the 2026 Iran war, Graham supports Trump’s conduct of the Iran war but wants all economic options tried before deploying U.S. ground troops.

Read statementFull case: Do they support the war in Iran?
Portrait of Darline Graham

Darline Graham

Role at the time: U.S. Senator, South Carolina

Defended or excused

Statement summary

Lindsey Graham voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 86, the Senate resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 86: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 184: H.Con.Res. 86, Iran War Powers Resolution (agreed to, 50-48)
Why we used this label

A nay vote opposed the resolution directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, allowing U.S. military operations in the war to continue.

Read statementFull case: Do they support the war in Iran?

A participant is a subject of the case. A speaker has a statement documented in it. A commentator has an opinion or editorial documented in it.

Case

Trump waives the Graham Act's Russia sanctions

Relationship to this case: Speaker

The White House says waiving the Graham Act's Russia measures preserves room for peace negotiations. Lawmakers from both parties and Volodymyr Zelenskyy say relief weakens pressure on Russia. Thomas Massie welcomes Trump's use of the authority Congress granted.

RussiaInternational RelationsUpdated

Case

Do they support the war in Iran?

Relationship to this case: Speaker

An issue tracker recording where members of Congress and 2026 midterm candidates stand on the unauthorized Iran war, based on their votes on war-powers resolutions, campaign statements, and public remarks.

Iran WarU.S. PoliticsUpdated

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