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Monday, July 13, 2026
Darline Graham Nordone, sister of Lindsey Graham, chosen to fulfill rest of his Senate term
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Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, is named as her late brother’s temporary replacement in the US Senate after his unexpected death over the weekend.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announces at a news conference at the statehouse that Nordone will serve the remaining months on Graham’s current term, which expires in January.
A person familiar with the appointment process but not authorized to speak about it publicly says Nordone will be sworn in Wednesday. She will be the first woman to represent the state in the US Senate.
“It is such an honor,” Nordone says, as dozens of Graham staffers and campaign advisers stand behind her, some with eyes glassy from welling tears. “Lindsey has always been there for me. And now, I will be there for him.”
Graham died on Saturday night at age 71. He never married or had a family of his own, but Nordone was often by her brother’s side for the political touch points of his career, speaking at events and appearing in some of his campaign ads.
Introducing Nordone, McMaster says the two had spoken in “in the wee hours of Sunday morning” after Graham’s death, and he asked her to serve.
“I had wondered what you would say, and I was humbled by your quickness to see the duty that you had to serve,” McMaster says. He adds that US President Donald Trump “thought it was a great idea” when he later told him of his pick. Trump announced his support for Nardone to fill the seat earlier Monday.
A special election will be held next month to pick a new Republican nominee in the general election for Graham’s seat in the deep red state.
The Times of Israel Community.