PN1129 · U.S. SENATE
Confirmation: Keith Sonderling, of F.L., to be Secretary of Labor
Motion: On the Nomination
Confirms Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor.
AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Photo: unitedstates.github.ioSC · Officeholder
Darline Graham
RU.S. Senator · South Carolina
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. Senate · South Carolina
Biography
Darline Graham is the Republican U.S. Senator from South Carolina, appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster on July 13, 2026 after the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham. Before the Senate she worked in state and university roles and in vocational-rehabilitation and workforce agencies, and from 2019 headed the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. She won the Republican special primary runoff on August 25, 2026 and is running to complete the term.[1][2][3][4]
Graham was born in Central, in Pickens County, South Carolina, on June 12, 1964.[2] Her parents operated a restaurant and bar; her mother died when she was 11 and her father about 15 months later, after which she lived with an aunt and uncle in Seneca, with her brother Lindsey as her legal guardian.[6] She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the College of Charleston in 1989 and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from South Carolina State University in 2009, and she is a Certified Public Manager.[2][4][5]
Graham has said her career spans nearly 30 years of public service in South Carolina.[1][5] Before becoming commissioner she held roles with Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.[5] In 2008 she joined the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department, where she helped coordinate a remote-work program for adults with severe disabilities and by 2015 was public information director.[6] In 2019 she became commissioner and agency head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, which provides vocational rehabilitation, independent-living training and other services to people who are blind or have low vision; her campaign says she led 130 employees in 10 offices and oversaw a $90 million budget.[1][4][5] She also served on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and was elected president of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, with a term set to begin in January 2027.[5][6]
Graham had never held elected office before her appointment, though she appeared in a 2002 television ad for her brother's Senate campaign, took part in his later campaigns, introduced him at his 2016 presidential campaign launch and traveled to Iowa to help that campaign.[4][6] After Lindsey Graham died on July 11, 2026, McMaster appointed her to fill the vacancy, and she took the oath of office on July 14. She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate and the first senator to succeed a sibling.[2][4][5][6] In the 2026 special Republican primary on August 11 she placed first with 32.8%, then won the August 25 runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman with 52.6% of the vote (180,231 to 162,497).[1][3] Her committee assignments are Appropriations, Budget, Environment and Public Works, and Judiciary. On July 16, 2026 she introduced the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which passed both chambers and was signed into law in September.[6] Graham is married, has two daughters and lives in Lexington, South Carolina.[4][5]
- 1.Darline Graham · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 2.Senator Darline Graham · U.S. Senate (dgraham.senate.gov) · 2026-10-19 Official record
- 3.United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 4.Who is Lindsey Graham's sister Darline Graham Nordone? · The Post and Courier News report
- 5.Gov. McMaster Appoints Darline Graham to the U.S. Senate · Office of the Governor of South Carolina · 2026-07-13 Official record
- 6.Darline Graham · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.
On the ballot
Full candidate research ›U.S. Senate · South Carolina ›
Also on the ballot for this seat
Votes by issue
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
Education & families6 with · 1 against7 votes
Most contested
- No
Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.
Sep 28, 2026 · Rejected 49–50 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
Foreign affairs & defense3 with · 0 against3 votes
Most contested
- No
This concurrent resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its government or military unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted.
Sep 24, 2026 · Rejected 49–50 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 This bill imposes a variety of sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions related to Russia, extends an Iran-related sanctions law, and expands a tax deduction for teacher expenses to include early childhood educators.
Aug 7, 2026 · Rejected 32–64 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
Jobs & cost of living1 with · 0 against1 vote
Most contested
- Yes
Confirmation: Keith Sonderling, of F.L., to be Secretary of Labor
Confirms Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor.
Sep 30, 2026 · Confirmed 47–41 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Health & care1 with · 0 against1 vote
Most contested
- Yes
Confirms Erica Schwartz as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Aug 5, 2026 · Confirmed 51–44 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Rights & public safety1 with · 0 against1 vote
Most contested
- Yes
Confirmation: Todd Blanche, of Florida, to be Attorney General
Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General.
Aug 8, 2026 · Confirmed 50–49 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 1 of 45 party-divided votes on file.
Kennedy Amdt. No. 6760; To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.
A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6760, which would limit price increases for college athletics tickets. (AI-written)
What it does: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences t…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 31–14, Republicans 9–40
Sep 28, 2026Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- Yes
With most of their party · Confirmed 48–47 · Yes 48–No 47 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 48–0
Jul 23, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Confirmed 50–47 · Yes 50–No 47 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 50–0
Sep 23, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Agreed to 50–47 · Yes 50–No 47 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 50–0
Jul 30, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
Confirmation: Benjamin M. Flowers, of Ohio, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit
With most of their party · Confirmed 49–46 · Yes 49–No 46 · Democrats 0–44, Republicans 49–0
Jul 22, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Confirmed 50–48 · Yes 50–No 48 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 50–1
Jul 21, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
Confirmation: En Bloc nominations provided for under the provisions of S. Res. 817
With most of their party · Confirmed 51–47 · Yes 51–No 47 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 51–0
Aug 7, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Confirmed 49–45 · Yes 49–No 45 · Democrats 0–43, Republicans 49–0
Sep 17, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Rejected 49–50 · Yes 49–No 50 · Democrats 45–0, Republicans 2–50
Sep 28, 2026Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
YesVOTED
PN1129 · U.S. SENATE
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor
Motion: On the Cloture Motion
A yes vote ended debate (cloture) so the Senate could move to a final vote on the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor. (AI-written)
H.R. 9340 · U.S. SENATE
Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 9340; A bill to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a Federal standard relating to the recovery of the full, incremental costs of upgrades that serve large-load customers, and for other purposes.
Motion: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed
A yes vote would have ended debate on whether the Senate should begin considering H.R. 9340, a bill setting a federal standard on recovering the costs of upgrades serving large-load electricity customers (cloture on the motion to proceed). (AI-written)
Ratepayer Protection Act The bill requires state utility regulators and nonregulated utilities to consider implementing a standard to hold certain large-load customers responsible for the costs associated with any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade of electric service necessary to serve such customers.
Official summary — read the bill text ↗
H.R. 7008 · U.S. SENATE
Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: H.R. 7008; A bill to amend chapter 131 of title 5 to require certain restrictions on stocks for Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents, and for other purposes.
Motion: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed
A yes vote would have ended debate on whether the Senate should begin considering H.R. 7008, a bill requiring certain restrictions on stocks held by Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents (cloture on the motion to proceed). (AI-written)
Stop Insider Trading Act This bill generally prohibits Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children from purchasing stocks and requires public notice before these individuals may sell stocks.
Official summary — read the bill text ↗
S.Res. 852 · U.S. SENATE
Motion to Discharge S. Res. 852; A resolution requesting information on Israel's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Motion: On the Motion to Discharge
A yes vote would have discharged S.Res. 852, requesting information on Israel's human rights practices under section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, from committee so the Senate could consider it. (AI-written)
As introduced, requests that the Secretary of State give Congress, within 30 days, a statement on Israel's human rights practices, including information on alleged killings of U.S. citizens by Israeli forces or settlers since 2022, Americans held in Israeli prisons and detained Palestinian children.
AI summary — read the bill text ↗
S.J.Res. 197 · U.S. SENATE
Motion to Proceed to S.J. Res. 197; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; and Basic Health Program".
Motion: On the Motion to Proceed
A yes vote would have moved the Senate to take up S.J.Res. 197, a resolution to disapprove the CMS rule on the 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters and the Basic Health Program. (AI-written)
Overturns the federal health agency's 2027 rule setting payment parameters and standards for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, including insurer user fees, broker rules, hardship exemptions and catastrophic-plan options, so the rule has no legal effect.
AI summary — read the bill text ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE
S. 4668, as amended; A bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.
Motion: On Passage of the Bill
Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.
Official summary — read the bill text ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE
Booker Amdt. No. 6835; To establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams.
Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6835
A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6835, which would establish certain standards for coaches of varsity sports teams. (AI-written)
Amendment purpose (official): To establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams.
Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.
Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE
Booker Amdt. No. 6805; To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.
Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6805
A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6805, which would increase the limit on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury coverage for student athletes. (AI-written)
Amendment purpose (official): To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.
Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.
Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE
Kennedy Amdt. No. 6760; To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.
Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6760
A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6760, which would limit price increases for college athletics tickets. (AI-written)
Amendment purpose (official): To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.
Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.
Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Showing 10 of 62 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.