Darline Graham Nordone Named Temporary US Senator
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has appointed Darline Graham Nordone, the younger sister of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, to complete his term in the US Senate.
The appointment came hours after President Donald Trump publicly encouraged McMaster to select Nordone for the position.
She will serve in the Senate until January, when Graham’s current term ends. Voters will then elect a new senator to begin a full six-year term.
Governor Pays Tribute to Lindsey Graham
While announcing the appointment, Governor McMaster praised the late senator’s public service.
He said, “It’s my honour to ask his little sister, Darline Graham, to finish his work for him now.”
After accepting the role, Nordone reflected on her brother’s legacy.
She stated, “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him.”
She also added, “My brother was the most amazing person, an outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man.”
Earlier, President Trump endorsed the appointment on Truth Social, calling it a “fabulous tribute” to Graham.
McMaster later wrote on a private post, “Today, it was my honour to appoint Darline Graham to complete his term and carry forward his legacy of service.”
Family Bond Shaped Their Lives
Lindsey Graham never married and did not have children. Instead, he shared a particularly close relationship with his younger sister.
After their mother died when Graham was 20 and Nordone was 12, their father passed away less than two years later from a heart attack.
At the age of 22, Graham formally adopted his 13-year-old sister. He supported her education and took responsibility for raising her after the deaths of their parents.
Special Election Scheduled
Nordone’s appointment is temporary and will remain in effect until January.
Meanwhile, South Carolina Republicans will hold a special primary election on August 11 to choose their candidate for the November election.
The successful candidate will assume office in January and begin serving a full six-year term in the US Senate.
