Newest Senator trolled over her simple solution to the GOP's 'affordability' headache

By CHASE HOPE, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE DAILY MAIL Published: 20:32, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 20:48, 4 August 2026 Senator Darline Graham, running to retain her late brother's South Carolina seat, tried to identify with the financial struggles of voters in a seemingly tame social media post. 'I know how to bargain shop,' she wrote on X on Monday. 'I look for the buy one, get one free deals, and the shoes I’m wearing around the US Capitol came from the clearance rack.' 'I cut my own grass with a push mower, and yes, I know how to use a weedeater,' she added. But, many voters took to the comment section to troll her simple affordability solution.  'Your salary before you took your brother's Senate seat was $138,000 a year,' X user JoJo Marks responded. 'Please don't insult me or other paycheck-not-provided-by-taxpayers people and try to make us believe you have to pinch pennies.' Marks correctly tallied Graham's reported salary for her job leading the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. Others pointed out that landscaping know-how did not necessarily translate to legislative skill. 'That's awesome, and I sincerely mean that, but exactly what does it have to do with representing me or millions of others from [South Carolina] in the US Senate?' questioned another user.  Graham during Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Donald Trump's nomination of Todd Blanche to be attorney general 'I cut my own grass too. Guess I should run for the Senate seat,' quipped another commentator.   The Senate candidate doubled down on her working-class identity in a primary debate Monday night, saying she is one of many South Carolinians who live paycheck-to-paycheck and do not have 'a rainy-day fund,' or enough money to pay necessary bills for three months. Michele Mangum, who according to her X bio lives in South Carolina, pointed out that in addition to her own six-figure salary, Graham could take advantage of her husband's paycheck. The latest Daily Mail/JL Partners poll found only 31 percent of voters describe themselves as financially comfortable and able to save, while 35 percent have at least 'some difficulty' covering expenses.  Graham's campaign sharply disagreed with these online critics. 'Senator Graham’s comments have received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from South Carolinians because they appreciate knowing she struggles with the same issues they do,' spokesperson Abby Zilch told the Daily Mail. 'If voters are looking for a wealthy career politician to represent them, they’ll prefer other candidates.' Graham's working-class pitch comes amid a rapidly developing Republican special primary necessitated by the untimely death of her brother. Though she obtained Donald Trump's coveted endorsement, she faces a competitive field of challengers, most notably Representatives Ralph Norman and Russell Fry and former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. Left to right: Russell Fry, Mark Sanford, and Ralph Norman, Graham's three main opponents When reached by the Daily Mail, Norman spokesperson Brittany Yanick described him as the 'only proven conservative' in the race.  Voters will choose the Republican candidate next Tuesday, August 11, before the winner moves on to face Democrat Annie Andrews. Fry and Sanford's campaigns did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.