South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed late Sen. Lindsey Graham‘s (R-S.C.) sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to the Senate seat following her brother’s death, a move backed by President Donald Trump.
The governor said he offered her the job on Sunday morning following her brother’s death, and she accepted tearfully.
On Monday, Nordone, during her appointment, said: “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him.” She signaled she would continue her brother’s political agenda and align herself with Trump’s allies in the Senate.
Following Lindsey’s death, Nordone will serve in the Senate until Jan. 3, 2027, unless she runs for and wins the seat in November. Republicans will hold a special primary on August 11 to choose a replacement nominee for Lindsey, with the winner facing Democrat Annie Andrews in the November election.
South Carolina Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman are reportedly considering campaigns for Graham’s Senate seat.
Nordone received Trump’s endorsement earlier that day, with the President expressing his support in a social media post.
Who is Darline Graham Nordone?
Nordone, mother of two, is a commissioner at the South Carolina Commission for the Blind and is a trained optician who previously worked at Clemson University and South Carolina’s Department of Employment and Workforce. She serves as president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind and sits on the state’s Workforce Development Board.
After losing both parents as a teenager, she shared a close bond with her brother, who became a father figure. She introduced him at his 2015 presidential campaign launch, and he later said she would be an excellent representative of the U.S. in a future administration.
GOP Backs Darline Appointment
Senate Majority Leader John Thune welcomed Darline’s appointment, saying she would carry on Lindsey’s legacy and that he looked forward to welcoming her to the Senate.
Crypto Push Honors Graham
On Monday, Trump urged the Senate to pass the CLARITY Act in honor of the late Graham, calling him a strong supporter of the crypto bill. Trump also warned that China is seeking dominance in cryptocurrency and AI, urging lawmakers not to let Beijing gain the upper hand.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) backed Trump’s call, praised Lindsey Graham’s support for U.S. leadership and digital assets, urged Congress to pass the CLARITY Act, and noted Graham previously voted for the GENIUS Act, the stablecoin law enacted last year.
A preliminary medical examiner’s report found that Graham died from an aortic dissection caused by cardiovascular disease. The Republican senator and close ally of Trump was 71 when he died on Saturday evening. On Sunday, FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI is assisting local law enforcement and has deployed all necessary resources.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
