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.

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

The post Darline Graham Nordone appointed to temporarily fill Lindsey Graham’s U.S. Senate seat appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died unexpectedly Saturday at age 71, initially appeared to draw a firm line following the Capitol riot.

Addressing the Senate after lawmakers reconvened to certify the 2020 presidential election, Graham said the events of Jan. 6 marked a breaking point in his relationship with Trump.

“Trump and I, we’ve had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way,” Graham said. “All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough.”

The break, however, proved brief. Within months, Graham concluded that the Republican Party’s future remained closely tied to Trump and resumed his role as one of the president’s most steadfast allies.

“Can we move forward without President Trump? The answer is no,” Graham said in May 2021. “I’ve determined we can’t grow without him.”

Following news of Graham’s death, Trump paid tribute to the senator in a social media post, calling him a “true American Patriot.” Speaking later on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump said he was stunned by Graham’s sudden passing.

“I just can’t believe it,” Trump said. “He was like a member of the family.”

From Presidential Rival to Trusted Adviser

Graham’s relationship with Trump began with sharp political clashes during the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

He repeatedly criticized Trump during the campaign, calling him “unfit for office” and condemning his attacks on the late Sen. John McCain, Graham’s longtime friend and fellow Republican from Arizona.

Their feud escalated when Trump publicly revealed Graham’s cellphone number. In response, Graham released a widely viewed video in which he destroyed several mobile phones.

As Trump’s campaign gained momentum, Graham warned that nominating him would be politically damaging and declined to support him in the 2016 general election.

The relationship shifted after Trump entered the White House. The two developed a personal friendship, frequently played golf together and found common ground on judicial appointments, legislative priorities and national security issues.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said their bond deepened over years of spending time together away from Washington, including more than 100 hours on the golf course.

During Trump’s first administration, Graham emerged as one of the president’s most influential allies in Congress, helping advance judicial nominations — including Supreme Court appointments — while backing major elements of the White House’s legislative agenda.

Jan. 6 Break Gave Way to Renewed Alliance

The Capitol attack briefly appeared to bring the partnership to an end.

Following the riot, Graham said he had “never been so humiliated and embarrassed” for the United States, remarks widely viewed as one of the strongest Republican rebukes of Trump after the attack.

That political distance narrowed within weeks after Trump invited Graham to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for golf and dinner, helping rebuild their alliance.

Throughout Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign, Graham became one of the president’s most visible surrogates, frequently defending his policies during television appearances.

Although Graham continued to hold more traditional Republican views on foreign policy, including strong support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, he remained one of Trump’s closest advisers on international affairs.

He regularly advised the White House on issues involving Israel, Ukraine and Iran and was a frequent visitor to the Oval Office.

Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said meetings involving Graham were marked by close personal relationships and energetic policy discussions.

Foreign Policy Influence Remained a Hallmark

Graham remained one of the Senate’s most outspoken advocates of an assertive U.S. foreign policy, even as portions of Trump’s political base increasingly favored a less interventionist approach.

Following U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran in February, Graham strongly defended the operation, arguing that it advanced American security interests.

In a June 19 social media post, Graham rejected suggestions that Iran had emerged stronger after the attacks, describing those claims as an inaccurate assessment of the country’s military and economic condition.

His close relationship with Trump remained evident until the final weeks of his political career.

After winning the South Carolina Republican primary last month, Graham thanked God before joking that Trump ranked immediately afterward in the order of his appreciation.

The remark underscored a political alliance that survived years of public disagreements, criticism and reconciliation, ultimately becoming one of the defining relationships within the modern Republican Party.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

Article Topics: Lindsey Graham | Donald Trump | Republican Party | U.S. Senate | Jan. 6 Capitol Riot | Foreign Policy | Political Leadership

The post Lindsey Graham’s Political Legacy Was Defined by His Alliance With Trump Despite Public Breaks appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.