South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster introduced on Monday that he’s appointing Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister Darline Graham Nordone to take his U.S. Senate seat for the remainder of his time period.
“I believe that is what Lindsey would have wished and I plan to honor him on this manner,” Nordone mentioned at an occasion saying her appointment. “Lindsey has at all times been there for me. And now I might be there for him.”
Graham’s workplace introduced that the longtime Republican lawmaker had died suddenly at the age of 71 on Saturday. Preliminary findings from the Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia mentioned Graham died from an “aortic dissection attributable to arteriosclerotic heart problems.”
Darline Graham Nordone, sister of Sen. Lindsey Graham is applauded after South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster named her to serve out the rest of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s time period, July 13, 2026.
South Carolina Home TV
McMaster mentioned he had talked to Nordone on Sunday morning concerning the appointment and he or she agreed to fill out Graham’s time period.
“Lindsey took care of his little sister in years lengthy departed. It is my honor to ask his little sister, Darlene Graham, to complete his work for him now,” McMaster mentioned.
President Donald Trump earlier Monday mentioned he wished Nordone to be Graham’s non permanent substitute within the Senate.
Trump wrote in a social media submit that he made his advice to McMaster, and mentioned it will a “fabulous tribute” to Graham.
Nordone has served since 2019 as commissioner of the South Carolina Fee for the Blind, the place she has labored to increase alternatives for South Carolinians who’re blind or have low imaginative and prescient to realize employment and independence, in response to a biography offered by the governor’s workplace.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham together with his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, as he walks down the halfway on the Iowa State Truthful in Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 17, 2015.
Congressional Quarterly/CQ-Roll Name by way of Getty Photos
Earlier than that, she 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. Along with her position with the Fee for the Blind, Nordone serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Improvement Board and is president-elect of the Nationwide Council of State Companies for the Blind.
She earned a bachelor’s diploma from the School of Charleston, a Grasp’s diploma in rehabilitation counseling and is an authorized public supervisor, in response to the governor’s workplace.
Separate from the non permanent substitute to finish Graham’s time period, South Carolina will hold a special election on Aug. 11 to exchange Graham because the Republican nominee on the final election poll this November.
Darline Graham Nordone, sister of Sen. Lindsey Graham walks to the stage earlier than his announcement for presidency, June 1, 2015, in Central, S.C.
Rainier Ehrhardt/AP, FILE
Graham and his sister shared an extremely shut relationship. After their mother and father died when Graham was solely 22 years previous, he took on a caretaker position for his youthful sister, turning into her authorized guardian.
Nordone, in a recent video for Graham’s reelection marketing campaign, mentioned of her brother, “He is at all times been there for me, it doesn’t matter what.”
Flowers are left outdoors the workplace of the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican from South Carolina, on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 13, 2026.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Trump, in an interview with “Fox & Associates” on Monday morning, referred to as Graham a “buddy” and praised his work on shepherding via the nomination of Supreme Court docket Justice Brett Kavanaugh throughout his first time period.
“He had enjoyable with politics, however he was actually good at it,” Trump mentioned of Graham. “After which when he obtained offended, like he did within the case of Brett Kavanaugh, it was so impactful.”
This can be a creating story. Please verify again for updates.
