Lindsey Graham's Sister Appointed To Serve Remainder Of His Senate Term After Trump Push

Last Updated:July 14, 2026, 02:50 IST

Trump had earlier urged McMaster to select Nordone, calling the move a “fabulous tribute” to Graham, a longtime Republican senator and close ally of the president.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Monday appointed late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham’s younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve the remainder of his Senate term following his sudden death at the age of 71.

Nordone will hold the Senate seat until Graham’s term ends in January, after McMaster announced the appointment just hours after US President Donald Trump publicly backed her for the role.

“It’s my honour to ask his little sister Darline Graham to finish his work for him now," McMaster said while announcing the decision.

Nordone paid tribute to her brother, saying, “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him." She called Graham as an exceptional leader and “a genuinely good man."

Trump Calls Appointment A Tribute To Graham

Trump had earlier urged McMaster to select Nordone, calling the move a “fabulous tribute" to Graham, a longtime Republican senator and close ally of the president.

Graham, who never married and had no children, shared a particularly close bond with his sister. Their family faced major losses early in life, with their mother dying when Graham was 20 and Nordone was 12. Their father died less than two years later after suffering a heart attack.

At the time, Graham was just 22 and took responsibility for raising his younger sister. He legally adopted Nordone, helped her complete school and became her main source of support.

Nordone had previously recalled how Graham comforted her after their father’s death and promised to always look after her.

The appointment is temporary, with South Carolina Republicans set to hold a special primary election on August 11 to choose a candidate for the November contest. The winner of that election will begin a full six-year Senate term in January.

Graham died unexpectedly over the weekend. A preliminary report from the District of Columbia Medical Examiner found that Graham died from an aortic rupture caused by hardened arteries.

His office had initially announced that he had passed away following a “brief and sudden illness".

(With inputs from agencies)

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