But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Darline Graham
Republican · U.S. Senate, South Carolina
✗SupportsFrom an endorsement
How this mark works
We track key votes on sending U.S. weapons and money to the government of Israel. A check means every tracked vote they cast came down against sending more, on the side of peace and de-escalation. A question mark means a mixed record: they sided with sending up to half of the time. An X means they voted to send more weapons and money in over half of their tracked votes, even as the way those weapons and dollars were being used became more and more obvious. At exactly half, money this election cycle from a lobbying group we track, or an endorsement from a group that backs sending weapons, makes it an X. Only votes actually cast are counted. Where a candidate has no recorded votes on these bills, the mark comes instead from a reviewed reading of their public record (money from the lobbying groups we track, endorsements, and their own words since January 26, 2024). There an X also covers fully backing the conduct of the war by the government of Israel without significant reservations, and a question mark also covers speaking about Israel without saying clearly where they stand on U.S. weapons and funding. A dash means No Position Found: we found nothing in their own words about Israel, Gaza or the war.
Darline Graham, appointed in July 2026 to her late brother Lindsey Graham's seat, cosponsored the U.S.-Israel FUTURES Act on joint defense research. "We have to stand with Israel," she said in an August debate. She has named no position on specific U.S. weapons or aid for the government of Israel.
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Darline Graham was appointed to the Senate on July 13, 2026, after her brother Lindsey Graham's death, and won the Republican nomination in the August 25 runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman. In November she faces three opponents: Democrat Annie Andrews, Libertarian Kasie Whitener and the Constitution Party's Mark Hackett.
On August 13, 2026, her Senate office announced that she is cosponsoring the U.S.-Israel FUTURES Act, which expands U.S.-Israel cooperation on research and shared defense priorities, along with the Jewish American Security Act on antisemitism and two bills on Iran. "I stand with Israel," she said in the release. "In dangerous times, it is crucial we strengthen ties with a friend and ally like Israel, not walk away from them." "I truly believe we have a moral and religious duty to stand with the Jewish people and the nation of Israel to guard against those who seek to destroy them," she concluded.
In July she told CBN she felt called to "carry on his legacy", and told Fox News's Sean Hannity that beyond national security she wants to talk about "what matters to the average person". In August she told WHNS, a Fox News affiliate, that she met Prime Minister Netanyahu when he came to the United States for her brother's funeral and assured him she would continue to stand with Israel. Asked about the U.S. relationship with Israel in a runoff debate aired on C-SPAN, she called Israel "one of our strongest allies". "We have to stand with Israel," she said.
Beyond the FUTURES Act, she has not named a position on specific U.S. weapons transfers or aid for the government of Israel, and she has said nothing located on U.S. aid to Palestinians.
The money
Checked the five lobbying groups we track; no direct 2026 support found
2026 support from the five lobbying groups we track
Nothing recorded (as of 2026-09-27) from the five lobbying groups we track; earlier cycles and earmarked donations not yet tracked.
Support-only OpenFEC data. Opposition independent expenditures are excluded.
Endorsed by Republican Jewish Coalition
Republican Jewish CoalitionThe Republican Jewish Coalition's PAC; it financially supports Republican candidates who reflect its priorities, including strong U.S. backing of the government of Israel.These endorsements come from groups that back sending U.S. weapons and funding to the government of Israel.
In their words
“I truly believe we have a moral and religious duty to stand with the Jewish people and the nation of Israel to guard against those who seek to destroy them”
“I’m proud to again express my support for America’s greatest ally. These bills will help solidify the critical relationship between our two countries. In dangerous times, it is crucial we strengthen ties with a friend and ally like Israel, not walk away from them.”
The notes behind this card: what we looked at, what we found, and where each item came from.
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
[Position, 2026-08-13] Her Senate press release (cosponsorship of pro-Israel bills, read and verified verbatim) announces her cosponsorship of the U.S.-Israel FUTURES Act, which "expands U.S.-Israel cooperation efforts to support long-term research developments and enhance cooperation on shared defense priorities". Her statement in the release opens "I stand with Israel" and continues: "I’m proud to again express my support for America’s greatest ally. These bills will help solidify the critical relationship between our two countries. In dangerous times, it is crucial we strengthen ties with a friend and ally like Israel, not walk away from them." JNS carried the statement the same day (JNS report).
[Position, 2026-08, runoff debate; reported 2026-08-26] In a debate aired on C-SPAN the week before the August 25 runoff, asked about the U.S. relationship with Israel, she called Israel "one of our strongest allies", said she had vowed to Prime Minister Netanyahu to "continue supporting Israel in any way" she can, and said "We have to stand with Israel" (JTA report). JTA does not give the debate's date.
No position located on specific U.S. weapons transfers or aid packages for the government of Israel beyond the FUTURES Act cosponsorship.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
Nothing located in her Senate release, her campaign's issues page, or the interviews and debate reports listed here.
Characterization of the conflict
[Position, 2026-08-13] Same release: "I truly believe we have a moral and religious duty to stand with the Jewish people and the nation of Israel to guard against those who seek to destroy them," she concluded. Framed in religious terms.
[Position, 2026-07-21] Her CBN interview: she said she felt called to "carry on his legacy". The mention of Israel in that report is CBN's own description of her brother's work ("strong conservative stances on issues like Israel"), not her words.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
[Position, 2026-07-13] Appointed to the Senate by Gov. Henry McMaster on July 13, 2026 and sworn in on July 14 (Wikipedia).
[Undated claim, not confirmed] She described accepting the appointment as a privilege to carry forward her brother's work. No page carrying her words was opened, so this is not confirmed.
[Position, 2026-07-20] Told Fox News's Sean Hannity, as the Washington Examiner reported, that national security is important but that she also wants to talk about "what matters to the average person, the price of groceries, the price of gas, healthcare, insurance." The Examiner reported that she plans to put greater focus on everyday issues affecting South Carolinians.
[Position, 2026-08-18] Told WHNS, a Fox News affiliate, that she met Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife when they came to the United States for her brother's funeral on July 28, that she had not discussed what her relationship with Israel would look like if elected, and that she affirmed to him that she would continue to stand with Israel (Jerusalem Post report). Reported speech, not a quotation.
[Position, 2026-08-13] Cosponsored the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 and the Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 (release above).
[Position, 2026-07-22] Endorsed by the Republican Jewish Coalition, a national organization of Jewish Republicans. Its statement says her late brother "was the best friend of the Jewish people" and adds: "We trust his beloved sister to carry the fight forward." An endorser's act, not her words.
[Position, 2026-08-13] Cosponsored the Jewish American Security Act, which the release says "provides the Department of Education with supplemental tools to combat rising antisemitism in academic institutions and on campuses across the country, and helps secure Jewish communities and places of worship" (release above).
[Reported, 2026-07-28, not confirmed] Reaffirmed her commitment to countering antisemitism at the Washington memorial events. No page carrying this was opened.
What the campaign site and own pages say
Her campaign's issues page has eight sections (Economy, Border, Life, Election Integrity, Crime, Guns, Fighting for SC, Strength) and nothing on Israel, Gaza or foreign aid. Its Strength section reads "A strong military, secure borders, and American energy." Read 2026-09-26.
Her Senate office's release of August 13, 2026 is her fullest statement on this question (above).
The race
She won the Republican nomination in the August 25 special primary runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman (NPR, 2026-08-25). The state's candidate listing for the November 3 general election shows four active candidates for U.S. Senate: Annie Andrews (Democratic), Darline Graham (Republican), Mark Hackett (Constitution) and Kasie Whitener (Libertarian) (her listing; Hackett's listing). Live 5 News reported the same four (Live 5 News, 2026-08-26).
Places that could not be read, so nothing is claimed from them
The Hill's report of the Republican Jewish Coalition endorsement (https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5984723-republican-jewish-coalition-endorses-darline-graham/): could not be opened. The coalition's own statement is used instead.
Israeli government pages about the July visit: could not be opened.
The governor's appointment page and a PBS runoff page: could not be opened.
Not on the card, and why
The two Iran bills: not about what the United States sends the government of Israel or Palestinians.
The Jewish American Security Act and the antisemitism items: context, never the answer.
The Republican Jewish Coalition endorsement: an endorser's act, not her position.
The July 13 JNS analysis of the race: third-party analysis.
The unconfirmed acceptance remark and the unconfirmed July 28 antisemitism remark: no page carrying them was opened.
Sources retrieved for this card (address; opened or could not open; date)
But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and
funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps.
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