EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Darline Graham vows to take on China over fentanyl, illegal vapes and espionage

Sen. Darline Graham (R., S.C.) is promising to take a tough approach to Communist China if South Carolina voters send her back to the Senate for a full term, telling the Washington Reporter that Beijing has “repeatedly demonstrated that it is willing to exploit our weaknesses.”

Graham, who advanced to an Aug. 25 Republican runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman (R., S.C.) this week, has emphasized national security and protecting Americans at home as she makes her case to South Carolina voters.

In an exclusive interview with the Reporter, Graham said confronting the Chinese Communist Party would be a major priority for her in the Senate, pointing to threats ranging from cyberattacks and espionage to the flow of fentanyl and illicit Chinese products into American communities.

“China has repeatedly demonstrated that it is willing to exploit our weaknesses. My priority is protecting Americans here at home,” Graham told the Reporter.

“That means securing our critical infrastructure against Chinese cyberattacks, cracking down on espionage and intellectual property theft, stopping CCP-linked entities from gaining access to sensitive American technology and infrastructure, and disrupting the supply chains that help bring fentanyl into our communities,” Graham continued.

The Reporter specifically asked Graham about concerns over China’s role in fentanyl trafficking and illegal vapes, as well as Chinese hacking and espionage.

Illegal Chinese vaping products have become a growing concern for federal regulators and lawmakers. U.S. officials have stepped up efforts to crack down on unauthorized Chinese-made e-cigarettes flooding the American market, with FDA Commissioner Marty Makary making the illegal pipeline a priority for the agency.

Graham said the answer cannot be limited to defensive measures. She argued the United States also needs to reduce its economic dependence on China by rebuilding domestic manufacturing and securing critical supply chains.

“It also means making America stronger,” Graham said. “We need to manufacture more here, produce our own energy, secure our supply chains, and stop depending on Communist China for things America can make ourselves.”

Graham was appointed to the Senate last month by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster following the death of her brother, longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham. She became the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.

Her comments also suggest that if elected to a full six-year term, Graham intends to continue South Carolina’s tradition of having an outspoken China hawk in the Senate, with a particular focus on threats that directly affect American families and communities.