Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, was formally sworn in to the Senate on Tuesday afternoon to complete the rest of her late brother’s time period.
Republican Chuck Grassley, the president professional tempore of the Senate, presided over the ceremony.
Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican senator from South Carolina, died over the weekend at the age of 71.
Senator for South Carolina, Darline Graham Nordone, sister of late Senator Lindsey Graham, is sworn in by Senate President professional tempore Chuck Grassley on the ground of the Senate in Washington, July 14, 2026.
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On Monday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced he was appointing Darline Graham to serve in Lindsey Graham’s place till the time period ends in early January. President Donald Trump additionally supported the appointment, calling it a superb tribute” to Lindsey Graham, who at a younger age turned Darline Graham’s authorized guardian after the deaths of their dad and mom.
“Lindsey has all the time been there for me. And now I can be there for him,” Darline Graham mentioned on Monday.
Who’s Darline Graham?
Darline Graham, who lives in Lexington, South Carolina, has served since 2019 as commissioner of the South Carolina Fee for the Blind, in accordance with a biography supplied by Gov. McMaster’s workplace on Monday. She additionally serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Growth Board and is president-elect of the Nationwide Council of State Companies for the Blind.
She additionally beforehand held roles with Clemson College, the South Carolina Division of Employment and Workforce and the South Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the governor’s workplace mentioned.
Darline Graham, a mom of two, earned a bachelor’s diploma from the Faculty of Charleston, a grasp’s diploma in rehabilitation counseling and is a licensed public supervisor, in accordance with the discharge.
Darline Graham Nordone speaks subsequent to South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and Sen. Tim Scott after being appointed to fill the emptiness created by the passing of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, July 13, 2026, in Columbia, S.C.
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After their dad and mom died when Lindsey Graham was 22 years previous, he took on a caretaker function for Darline Graham, then 13, and have become her authorized guardian. Speaking to C-SPAN in 2015, Lindsey Graham mentioned his sister’s success was “the spotlight” of his life “by far.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham’s desk within the Senate chamber is draped in a black shroud because the Senate gavels into session for the primary time since his surprising loss of life this weekend, July 13, 2026 in Washington.
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Notes are posted on the workplace of Sen. Lindsey Graham within the Russell Senate Workplace Constructing on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 13, 2026, after the sudden loss of life of Graham.
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Their shut relationship was evident all through Lindsey Graham’s political profession. Darline Graham appeared with him a number of occasions on the marketing campaign path and in marketing campaign movies.
“It’s such a privilege to get to complete a few of his vital work, and I promise to work laborious over the following a number of months to assist the president and carry ahead the efforts of my brother on behalf of the residents of South Carolina and the US,” she mentioned on Monday.
