Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of late Senator Lindsey Graham, has been appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to fill the remainder of her brother’s U.S. Senate term, making her the first woman to represent South Carolina in the chamber.
McMaster announced the appointment on July 13, 2026, two days after Graham died at age 71 from an aortic dissection. “It’s my honor to ask his little sister Darline Graham to finish his work for him now,” McMaster said, according to Politico, formally appointing Nordone after recounting stories of Graham’s legacy.
President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune both publicly expressed support for McMaster’s choice. Trump called the appointment “a fabulous tribute” to the longtime Republican senator, according to The Guardian.
Nordone, who graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in sociology in 1989, has been her brother’s close confidant for decades. After their parents died, Lindsey Graham adopted and raised his younger sister through her teenage years and into adulthood. The two maintained a deep bond throughout his political career.
Nordone will serve in the Senate until January 3, 2027, when the remainder of Graham’s term expires. Her appointment as interim caretaker triggers a wide-open Republican primary election scheduled for August 11, 2026, according to Politico. The winner of that primary will then face voters in November to determine who serves the full next term.
Graham, who represented South Carolina in the Senate since 2003, was seeking reelection in November when he died suddenly after what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.” His unexpected death set off a succession process governed by South Carolina law, which allows the governor to appoint a temporary replacement while a special election determines the next senator.
Sources
- Politico — Nordone’s appointment as interim caretaker, McMaster’s statement, and the August 11 primary date
- The Guardian — Trump’s description of the appointment as a “fabulous tribute”
- College of Charleston — Nordone’s 1989 graduation with a degree in sociology
- South Carolina Daily Gazette — Background on Lindsey Graham adopting and raising his sister
- NBC News — Lindsey Graham’s death on July 11, 2026 at age 71 from brief and sudden illness
- CBS News — Cause of death as aortic dissection
