Lindsey Graham's sister appointed to temporarily fill his Senate seat
Late US Senator Lindsey Graham (photo: Getty Images)
The sister of US Senator Lindsey Graham will temporarily replace him following the lawmaker's death from an aortic dissection on Saturday, the BBC reports.
Who will replace the senator
Darline Graham Nordone was officially appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Monday, who introduced her as Graham's "darling little sister" and the person who will now "finish his work for him."
"It is such an honour. Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him," Nordone said.
The appointment came after officials, including President Trump, called for Nordone to be appointed as a "tribute" to the senator, who never married and had no children.
How long her term will last
According to McMaster, Nordone will serve until the end of Graham's term, which expires in 2027.
"Lindsey took care of his little sister. It's my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to finish his work for him now," the governor said.
Who is Darline Graham Nordone
Graham and his sister lost their parents at a young age — their mother and father died 15 months apart. At the time, Graham was 22 years old, and his sister was 13.
Graham later legally adopted his sister, explaining to reporters that this would make her eligible for his military benefits if anything happened to him.
Nordone is a mother of two who helps people with disabilities find employment. She has never previously held public office. Neither she nor the governor said whether she would run for a full six-year Senate term or serve only temporarily until January 2027.
A historical tradition
According to the US House of Representatives in 2025, 45 widowed women directly succeeded their late husbands in Congress — 38 in the House of Representatives and eight in the Senate.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham died on the evening of July 11 after a brief, sudden illness.
His last foreign trip was a visit to Ukraine, where he met with Ukrainian leaders and called for tougher sanctions on Russia, continued military support for Ukraine, and increased pressure on the Kremlin.
Immediately after his death, discussion began in the United States about his successor. Trump had previously named whom he wanted to see replace Graham, and unexpectedly, one of the leading candidates was the senator's sister.
