“I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina.”
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced Monday that Darline Graham Nordone, the younger sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, will serve as interim senator and fill her brother’s seat for the remainder of his term.
McMaster said the appointment was both a legal responsibility and a personal honor following Graham’s sudden death over the weekend at age 71.
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"Today under the law, it's my duty to, an honor, to name someone to serve in the place of this irresistible man, this irreplaceable man, this extraordinary man for the remainder of his term," McMaster said.
He then announced Graham’s sister as his choice.
"Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed. It's my honor to ask his little sister, Darlene Graham, to finish his work for him now," McMaster said.
McMaster said Nordone agreed to serve after he contacted her following Graham’s death.
"And by the way, Darlene, I don't know if I told you, but after we spoke on the phone in the wee hours of Sunday morning and you agreed to serve through tears, earlier I had wondered what you would say, and I was humbled by your quickness to see the duty that you had to serve," he said.
The appointment came after President Donald Trump recommended Nordone for the position earlier Monday.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, "I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina. This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!"
Graham died after returning from a trip to Ukraine. His office initially described his death as resulting from a "brief and sudden illness." A preliminary report from the medical examiner later identified the cause of death as "Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease."
Graham’s office said the final death certificate will remain pending until additional testing is completed.
"The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death," the statement said.
Darline Graham Nordone has largely stayed out of the political spotlight. She is married to Larry Nordone and has two daughters.
The siblings’ relationship was shaped by tragedy early in life. After their parents died while Lindsey Graham was in his early 20s, he became Darline’s legal guardian and later joined the Air Force so she could receive military benefits.
Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters praised the appointment, saying Graham’s legacy "will live on through his sister, Darline Graham Nordone."
"President Trump was right to recommend her, and Governor McMaster was right to appoint her," Gruters said. "Darline will be a remarkable champion for South Carolina, honoring her brother’s more than three decades of service as she carries on his fight in the U.S. Senate."
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