Larry Ellison Trust Gave $1 Million to Super PAC Backing Lindsey Graham's Sister in S.C. Senate Race
Security Is Strength PAC has spent millions in the race, with $1 million from a Larry Ellison trust and six figures from tobacco companies.
A conservative super PAC long tied to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham has shifted its money to his sister's campaign. Security Is Strength PAC has spent millions in South Carolina's U.S. Senate race, first supporting Lindsey Graham and more recently backing Sen. Darline Graham, while opposing Rep. Ralph Norman and Democrat Annie Andrews.
How the seat changed hands
Lindsey Graham won the Republican nomination in the June 9 primary but died on July 11. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham on July 13 to fill the seat, the same day President Trump endorsed her. She then beat Norman in the Aug. 25 runoff, roughly 52% to 48%, and now faces Andrews, a pediatrician, in November.
The money
Through Aug. 5, the PAC reported $7.13 million raised and $7.44 million spent, with $419,178.51 left in the bank. Federal records list $6.39 million of that as independent expenditures. The group had earlier pledged $8.5 million to back Lindsey Graham against Andrews, then announced an initial $900,000 for his sister's primary bid. Later filings show spending against Norman in the primary and Andrews in the general election.
Who's paying
Disclosed donors include the Lawrence J. Ellison Revocable Trust at $1 million, Startline LLC at $300,000, Altria Client Services at $250,000, and RAI Services Company at $200,000. Altria is the parent of Philip Morris USA, and RAI is part of Reynolds American.
A familiar player
In 2020, the PAC spent close to $14 million backing Graham against Jaime Harrison, the only race it funded that year. It says its mission is a strong national defense, conservative judges and traditional values. That mission sits next to a candidate who, during her only runoff debate, said she was "not that informed on national security."
Not alone
Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. spent more than $827,000 on calls and texts supporting Darline Graham before the runoff. The general election is Nov. 3.
Note: The PAC's totals above come from federal filings that run through Aug. 5, so spending after the runoff is not included.
Sources
Legis1: Security Is Strength PAC Spends Millions in South Carolina Senate Race
NBC News: Darline Graham wins South Carolina GOP Senate runoff
Photo: Official portrait of Sen. Darline Graham by Rosa Pineda, U.S. Senate (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.