Darline Graham Nordone has been appointed to the U.S. Senate seat previously held by her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, following her nomination by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.
The appointment was announced on Monday, less than two days after Lindsey Graham died from an aortic dissection.
During the announcement, Governor McMaster said Nordone would continue her brother’s work in the Senate, describing the appointment as a fitting tribute to the longtime lawmaker.
President Donald Trump had earlier publicly endorsed Nordone for the position, describing her as the ideal person to carry on her brother’s legacy.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott also backed the appointment, saying Nordone best understood her brother’s commitment to family, the state, and the nation.
McMaster revealed that he spoke with Nordone shortly after Graham’s death and later discussed the decision with President Trump, who supported the appointment.
Several other Republican figures, including Lieutenant Governor Pam Evette, former Representative Trey Gowdy, and former Senator Jim DeMint, were reportedly considered before the governor made his final decision.
Nordone will serve in the Senate until January 3, after which voters will elect a senator to complete the next six-year term.
It remains unclear whether she intends to contest the seat in the upcoming election. Meanwhile, several Republican politicians are reportedly considering campaigns for the position ahead of the party’s special primary.
Her appointment comes at a crucial time for Republicans, whose Senate majority has narrowed following Lindsey Graham’s death and amid the temporary absence of Senator Mitch McConnell due to health issues.
Before her appointment, Nordone largely stayed out of partisan politics. She served as a commissioner with the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, an agency that supports blind and visually impaired residents in achieving greater independence and employment opportunities.
She has previously spoken about the close bond she shared with her brother, explaining that Lindsey Graham played a major role in raising her after the death of their mother when she was 11 years old.
Although she has never held elected office, Nordone’s appointment marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.
