Graham's sister picked to fill in for late senator to represent South Carolina

Lucy Valeski, The State (Columbia, S.C.) on Jul 13, 2026

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The sister of the late Lindsey Graham will take over for the final months of his U.S. Senate term, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced Monday.

Darline Graham Nordone was named to temporarily serve in the U.S. Senate hours after President Donald Trump supported her appointment Monday.

“Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him,” Nordone said. “My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man.”

Nordone spoke fondly of her brother while surrounded by his tearful staff, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, her family and other legislative leaders in the South Carolina State House Monday afternoon.

“I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way,” Nordone said.

“And to Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words. I’m going to do this. I got it,” she finished.

Before McMaster said Nordone would fill in for Graham, he also paid tribute to the longtime senior senator.

“We meet in sadness over the loss of one of South Carolina’s greatest sons,” McMaster said Monday afternoon. “Here we also gather together to celebrate what this self-described poor boy from a small town, rural town in South Carolina accomplished through grit, determination and character, for his state, for his country and for his world.”

Nordone often campaigned with Graham, including appearing alongside him at events and speaking in campaign ads.

“He’s always been there for me, no matter what,” she said in a campaign ad for Graham, released earlier this year ahead of the June primary.

Shortly after McMaster announced his press conference Monday morning, Trump said he recommended the governor choose Nordone.

“This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!” Trump posted on Truth Social Monday morning.

McMaster said he spoke to Nordone over the phone Sunday morning, and she agreed to finish Graham’s term through tears.

“I had wondered what you would say,” McMaster said. “And I was humbled by your quickness to see the duty that you had to serve. And I called the president afterward, and he thought it was a great idea.”

Shortly after Trump’s post, Nordone was also endorsed by Scott and John Thune, the majority leader from South Dakota.

Graham and Nordone’s parents died within 15 months of one another while Graham was studying at the University of South Carolina.

Their parents’ deaths made Graham a father figure to his younger sister, Nordone previously said. Graham eventually became her legal guardian after he enlisted in the Air Force.

“I can remember the day my father passed away, standing in that house absolutely scared to death,” Nordone said in 2015 when Graham announced his presidential bid. “Lindsey wrapped his arms around me and promised me that he would always be there for me and always take care of me.”

Nordone is married and has two daughters and a grandson.

South Carolina’s senior senator died suddenly Saturday evening, his office announced. A preliminary report found he died of an aortic dissection — a tear in the aorta— due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the medical examiner of the District of Columbia.

Graham’s death left his U.S. Senate seat open as Congress returned to work Monday. Under state law, Nordone will finish out Graham’s term, which ends in January 2027.

Whether Nordone will run for a full six-year term is still unclear. When he died, Graham was running for a fifth term to the U.S. Senate. He easily won the Republican nomination in June, beating back five competitors.

A special primary election will be held August 11 to replace Graham’s name on the November GOP ballot. If necessary, a runoff will be held August 25. Filing opens July 21 and ends one week later.

It was the first time a South Carolina U.S. Senate seat opened in more than a decade, and potential candidates will have to decide quickly if they want to compete for a six-year term. Graham held the seat for nearly 24 years.

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