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Darline Graham's career centered disability. Now she could help shape national policy
PBS • • nation
Key Points:
- Darline Graham, newly appointed to serve the remainder of her late brother Lindsey Graham's U.S. Senate term, has no prior elected office experience but has a long career in vocational rehabilitation and disability employment programs.
- Advocates and colleagues describe Graham as a dedicated, low-profile civil servant with deep knowledge of disability issues, emphasizing her bipartisan commitment rather than political activism.
- Graham played a key role in South Carolina's 2022 law ending subminimum wages for people with disabilities and has worked closely with disability advocacy groups and policymakers.
- Despite limited political involvement, Graham has strong support from disability communities and advocates who believe her expertise will benefit Capitol Hill and hope she may run for office in the future.
- Graham has pledged to support the president and continue her brother’s efforts, amid ongoing political challenges to disability rights and services at the federal level.
