Darline Graham Nordone has been appointed to serve the remainder of the term of her late brother, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. The 71-year-old senator passed away suddenly on July 11 from what was preliminarily identified as a rupture of his aorta due to a hardening of his arteries, according to an announcement from Graham’s office the following day.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster stated that he reached out to Graham Nordone on July 12 to request that she fill the vacancy, an offer she tearfully accepted.
During a press conference held on July 13, which marked her first public comments since her brother's death, Graham Nordone honored the late senator as an outstanding leader. "Lindsey has always been there for me, and I will be there for him," she said. "It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard 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."
While Graham Nordone currently lacks political experience—her professional career is focused on helping people with disabilities find employment—she expressed confidence in her ability to perform the role. She noted that with the support of her brother's staff and colleagues, she feels prepared to take on the responsibility.
"I think this is what Lindsey would’ve wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way," she stated. "Now, to Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words, but I’m going to do this. I got it."
The appointment came shortly after former President Donald Trump recommended the move in a post on Truth Social. "I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina," Trump wrote, adding that it would be a "fabulous tribute to Lindsey." Governor McMaster noted that he consulted with the former president after speaking with Graham Nordone, stating that Trump thought it was a great idea.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune also endorsed the decision, telling CNN that the appointment "would make a lot of sense."
The siblings shared a deep bond, having been orphaned at a young age. Their mother, Millie, passed away from Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1976 when Graham was 20 and his sister was 11. Their father, Florence James Graham, died of a heart attack 15 months later. In a previous interview with The New York Times, Graham Nordone described her brother as a guardian figure who helped raise her.
"Lindsey was always my parent," she told the publication. "There was no doubt in my mind or anyone else's mind that Lindsey was my guardian."
It remains unclear if Graham Nordone intends to run for the seat permanently. Senator Graham had been seeking a fifth term in the upcoming midterm elections after defeating several challengers, most notably wealthy businessman Mark Lynch, in the Republican primary last month. Under South Carolina law, candidates have a one-week window starting July 21 to file for a special primary election, which is scheduled for August 11.
The winner of that primary will replace Graham as the Republican nominee to face the Democratic nominee, pediatrician Annie Andrews, in the November general election.
Several potential contenders have been mentioned for the special primary, including Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, outgoing U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, Representative Russell Fry, former Representative Trey Gowdy, and Representative William Timmons.
During Graham's 2016 presidential campaign, his younger sister shared with The New York Times how the four-term senator taught her to ride a bicycle.
Graham was up for re-election in November, seeking his fifth term in the Senate. He prevailed over five primary challengers in June and was expected to face the Democratic nominee, Annie Andrews. Andrews, a pediatrician, previously lost a general election race for Mace's congressional seat in 2022.
