Senator Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) is addressing accusations from her opponents regarding her support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) while leading the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. Graham Nordone succeeded Lindsey Graham in the Senate last month and has been campaigning in a special primary election. She stated that she does not understand why her opponents, particularly Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), are attacking her for her work at the agency, which focuses on employment and vocational training for individuals who are blind or have low vision.
In a recent interview, Graham Nordone emphasized her commitment to helping blind individuals achieve independence and criticized the attacks as unfounded. Fry's campaign has run advertisements claiming she promoted a culture of diversity and inclusion at the agency. Graham Nordone responded to these claims, stating that attacking the Commission for the Blind for being inclusive is inappropriate.
Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) expressed support for Graham Nordone, describing the DEI attack ads as unreasonable. He stated that supporting blind individuals should not be conflated with DEI initiatives. Graham Nordone thanked Scott and others for their support and expressed confidence in her campaign ahead of the primary election, which is expected to be competitive, with the possibility of a runoff if no candidate secures a clear victory.