COLUMBIA, S.C. – Darline Graham Nordone has been appointed to temporarily represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate following the death of her brother, longtime Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Gov. Henry McMaster announced the appointment Monday during a news conference at the Statehouse in Columbia. He said Nordone will serve the remainder of Graham’s current Senate term, which expires in January. Senate Majority Leader John Thune later said she is scheduled to be sworn in Tuesday afternoon.
Nordone will become the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.
“It is such an honor,” Nordone said. “Lindsey has always been there for me. And now, I will be there for him.”
Graham died Saturday at age 71. According to a preliminary medical examiner’s report, he suffered an aortic dissection, a tear in the aorta.
McMaster said he contacted Nordone in the early hours after Graham’s death to ask whether she would accept the temporary appointment.
“I had wondered what you would say, and I was humbled by your quickness to see the duty that you had to serve,” the governor said.
McMaster also said President Donald Trump supported the appointment after being informed of the decision. Earlier Monday, Trump publicly endorsed Nordone to temporarily fill the Senate vacancy.
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Nordone previously worked as an optician and later held positions with the South Carolina Commission for the Blind and the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. She lives in Lexington, graduated from the College of Charleston and earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling.
She remained close to Graham throughout his political career. After their parents died when they were young, Graham became her legal guardian and helped raise his younger sister. Nordone frequently joined him at campaign events and public appearances.
Speaking emotionally during Monday’s announcement, Nordone addressed her late brother directly.
“To Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words,” she said. “But I’m going to do this. I got it.”
Special Election Process Begins
South Carolina law requires a special election after Graham died while seeking reelection to a fifth Senate term.
Candidate filing opens July 21, the second Tuesday after Graham’s death. Republicans will hold a special primary on Aug. 11, followed by a runoff on Aug. 25 if no candidate wins a majority.
The Republican nominee will then have just over two months to campaign before the Nov. 3 general election.
The compressed timetable also raises questions about compliance with federal law requiring military and overseas ballots to be distributed at least 45 days before federal elections. For the special primary, that deadline would have fallen on June 27. According to The Associated Press, federal election officials did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.
Republicans Consider Potential Candidates
Graham’s death leaves one of South Carolina’s rare open Senate seats, prompting speculation about who may seek the Republican nomination.
Potential candidates include Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman and Rep. Russell Fry. Businessman Mark Lynch, whom Graham defeated in this year’s Republican primary, has also been mentioned, along with former Gov. Mark Sanford.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has received inquiries about entering the race. However, a person familiar with the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity because the conversations were private, said Bessent is not interested and intends to remain in the Trump administration.
General Election Outlook
South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in decades, and Republicans have consistently won statewide Senate races by comfortable margins.
Graham defeated Democrat Jaime Harrison by 10 percentage points in the 2020 election.
This year’s Democratic nominee, Charleston pediatrician Annie Andrews, has raised more than $8 million for her campaign and reported nearly $3 million in cash on hand at the end of May, according to federal campaign filings. Before his death, Graham had raised about $6 million and reported just over $4 million remaining.
After Graham’s death, Andrews urged South Carolinians to set aside political differences and express gratitude for his public service.
Harrison also paid tribute on social media, saying that despite their political differences, the two shared a deep respect for South Carolina and the institutions they served.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Article Topics: U.S. Senate | South Carolina | Lindsey Graham | Darline Graham Nordone | Special Election | Republican Party | Henry McMaster
