{"id":7100,"date":"2026-07-16T00:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T19:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=7100"},"modified":"2026-07-16T00:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T19:06:12","slug":"the-view-host-sunny-hostin-slams-darline-graham-senate-pick-as-dei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=7100","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;The View&#8217; host Sunny Hostin slams Darline Graham Senate pick as DEI"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">&#8220;The View&#8221; co-host Sunny Hostin criticized South Carolina on Wednesday over Republican Gov. Henry McMaster&#8217;s appointment of Darline Graham to replace her late brother, <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153777\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/lindsey-graham\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sen. Lindsey Graham<\/a>, arguing the state&#8217;s first female senator lacked the political experience needed to represent its residents in Washington.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Hostin branded the appointment an example of diversity-based hiring and nepotism after <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153778\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/joy-behar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">co-host Joy Behar<\/a> called Graham&#8217;s selection &#8220;the very definition of DEI.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Correct, correct. It\u2019s everything that the Republican Party stands against. Everything!&#8221; Hostin said. &#8220;It\u2019s DEI. Nepotism. All these things thrown in together.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153779\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/lindsey-grahams-sister-carries-late-senators-work-becoming-south-carolinas-first-female-senator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>LINDSEY GRAHAM&#8217;S SISTER CARRIES ON LATE SENATOR&#8217;S WORK, BECOMING SOUTH CAROLINA&#8217;S FIRST FEMALE SENATOR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/SUNNY-HOSTIN-PLATNER.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/SUNNY-HOSTIN-PLATNER.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/SUNNY-HOSTIN-PLATNER.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/SUNNY-HOSTIN-PLATNER.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/931\/523\/SUNNY-HOSTIN-PLATNER.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1862\/1046\/SUNNY-HOSTIN-PLATNER.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/720\/405\/SUNNY-HOSTIN-PLATNER.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1440\/810\/SUNNY-HOSTIN-PLATNER.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/SUNNY-HOSTIN-PLATNER.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Sunny Hostin\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>&#8220;The View&#8221; co-host Sunny Hostin called Sen. Darline Graham\u2019s appointment &#8220;DEI&#8221; and &#8220;nepotism&#8221; while questioning her qualifications for office.<\/span> <span>(ABC\/TheView)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Hostin also attacked South Carolina for reaching the milestone through an appointment rather than the election of a female candidate.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;She\u2019ll be the first woman to be a U.S. senator in South Carolina in the history of the state, and I think that that\u2019s just \u2014 it\u2019s just fundamentally wrong that South Carolina just couldn\u2019t elect a woman and this is the only way that it was done,&#8221; Hostin said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The former federal prosecutor questioned Graham&#8217;s qualifications, referring to her as a certified optician and arguing that her professional background did not prepare her <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153780\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/elections\/senate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">for the Senate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153781\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/graham-ally-rips-thirsty-republicans-jockeying-replace-late-senator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>GRAHAM ALLY RIPS &#8216;THIRSTY&#8217; REPUBLICANS JOCKEYING TO REPLACE LATE SENATOR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/Senator-Darline-Graham-sworn-in.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/Senator-Darline-Graham-sworn-in.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/Senator-Darline-Graham-sworn-in.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/Senator-Darline-Graham-sworn-in.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/931\/523\/Senator-Darline-Graham-sworn-in.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1862\/1046\/Senator-Darline-Graham-sworn-in.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/720\/405\/Senator-Darline-Graham-sworn-in.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1440\/810\/Senator-Darline-Graham-sworn-in.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/Senator-Darline-Graham-sworn-in.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Darline Graham Nordone speaks during a press conference outside a building in Columbia, South Carolina.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Darline Graham became South Carolina\u2019s first female U.S. senator after she was appointed to complete the term of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.<\/span> <span>(Grant Baldwin\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I think the experience does matter,&#8221; Hostin said. &#8220;While she is a certified optician and while she has done great work in that field, I don\u2019t think that she should be representing the people of South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. I just don\u2019t.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Behar agreed and argued that public office required specialized knowledge.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It\u2019s not like taking over your mother\u2019s job at McDonald\u2019s,&#8221; Behar said. &#8220;You\u2019re in government. You have to know what you\u2019re doing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, who served as the White House Director of Strategic Communications in President Donald Trump&#8217;s first term, pushed back, noting that Graham would serve as a caretaker and comparing the appointment to California Gov. Gavin Newsom&#8217;s selection of Laphonza Butler <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153782\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/lindsey-graham-south-carolina-senator-rose-small-town-roots-gop-power-broker-dies-71\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">after the death<\/a> of Sen. Dianne Feinstein.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;You guys are putting too much stock in who\u2019s currently in Congress,&#8221; Griffin said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Yeah, you got a point,&#8221; co-host Whoopi Goldberg said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Hostin tied the appointment to reports that <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153783\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/mike-davis-why-senate-must-ignore-obama-judge-attack-ag-nominee-todd-blanche\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">War Secretary Pete Hegseth<\/a> had blocked several proposed promotions of Navy officers, including women and people of color.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I feel like our government is fundamentally broken,&#8221; Hostin said. &#8220;I just \u2014 I disagree with this.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153784\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/gop-senators-rally-behind-lindsey-grahams-sister-successor-remember-late-senators-legacy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>WATCH: GOP SENATORS RALLY BEHIND LINDSEY GRAHAM&#8217;S SISTER AS SUCCESSOR, REMEMBER LATE SENATOR&#8217;S LEGACY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/343\/192\/joy-behar-speaks.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/686\/384\/joy-behar-speaks.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/672\/378\/joy-behar-speaks.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1344\/756\/joy-behar-speaks.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/931\/523\/joy-behar-speaks.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1862\/1046\/joy-behar-speaks.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/720\/405\/joy-behar-speaks.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1440\/810\/joy-behar-speaks.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1200\/675\/joy-behar-speaks.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Joy Behar speaks\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Joy Behar joined Hostin in criticizing the appointment as &#8220;the very definition of a DEI,&#8221; while Alyssa Farah Griffin defended Graham\u2019s caretaker role.<\/span> <span>(Photo by Dia Dipasupil\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153785\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">A spokesperson for McMaster\u2019s office defended the appointment in a statement to Fox News Digital, citing the governor\u2019s authority under South Carolina law and Graham\u2019s nearly three decades of public service.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Under Section 7-19-20 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, the governor is authorized to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate by appointment until a successor is elected,&#8221; the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The spokesperson said voters would select the Republican nominee who will seek to replace Lindsey Graham in the Nov. 3 general election. Filing for the special Republican primary will run from July 21 through July 28, with the primary scheduled for Aug. 11 and a runoff, if necessary, on Aug. 25.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Darline Graham, a native of Central, S.C., has dedicated her career to public service,&#8221; the spokesperson added. &#8220;She has served the people of South Carolina for nearly 30 years, and the governor believes she is the right person to finish her brother\u2019s work.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Graham has served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind since 2019, working to expand employment and independent-living opportunities for residents who are blind or have low vision, according to the governor\u2019s office. She previously held roles with Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Graham pledged during <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153787\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/halls-senate-feel-empty-tearful-thune-honors-lindsey-graham-sister-takes-seat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">her appointment ceremony<\/a> to support President Trump and continue her brother\u2019s work.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work,&#8221; <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_153788\" href=\"https:\/\/governor.sc.gov\/news\/2026-07\/gov-mcmaster-appoints-darline-graham-us-senate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Graham said<\/a>. &#8220;I promise to work hard every day over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>CJ Womack is an associate editor at Fox News.<\/p>\n<p>CJ joined Fox News Digital&#8217;s team in 2026, which highlights the vital role journalism plays in shaping politics and culture. He has years of experience analyzing and reporting on the news media.<\/p>\n<p>CJ graduated from Long Beach State University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Journalism.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>You can send news tips to cj.womack@fox.com and follow CJ on <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/womackche\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! &#8220;The View&#8221; co-host Sunny Hostin criticized South Carolina on Wednesday over Republican Gov. Henry McMaster&#8217;s appointment of Darline Graham to replace her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, arguing the state&#8217;s first female senator lacked the political experience needed to represent its residents in Washington. Hostin branded the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Senator-Darline-Graham-sworn-in.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7100"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7100\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}