Darline Graham Nordone, the younger sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was sworn as Interim U.S. Senator of South Carolina this afternoon.
She will serve out the remainder of her brother’s term until January.
Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley presided over Nordone’s swearing-in ceremony.
Watch the moment here:
Nordone’s swearing-in took place just one day after South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to the role, with President Trump’s full support.
Next month, a special election will take place to determine who the Republican candidate in the South Carolina Senate election to permanently fill Sen. Graham’s seat will be.
AP News explained how that will work:
The rare open Senate seat has ignited a scramble among South Carolina’s most ambitious conservatives, who have been eager to climb the political ladder.
Republicans just finished a sprawling and bruising contest to figure out their nominee for succeeding McMaster, who is wrapping up his second term. State Attorney General Alan Wilson won the nomination, overcoming a field that included Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Rep. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman — all of whom are now eyeing Graham’s seat following his death over the weekend.
According to South Carolina law, a one-week filing period for a special primary election begins on the second Tuesday after the candidate’s death, or July 21.
The special primary election would be held on the second Tuesday after that filing period closes, or Aug. 11. Any necessary runoff would follow two weeks after that, or Aug. 25.
From that point, the new nominee would have just over two months to campaign for the general election on Nov. 3.
Darline has not revealed whether or not she will be running in this special election, yet.
But, even if it’s brief, her time in the Senate is an incredibly beautiful tribute to late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was extremely close with his sister.
Here’s a photo of them together:
Senator Darline Graham Nordone ❤️ What an honor for this family🙏 pic.twitter.com/1UhuUZwxkz
— Politikal Kat-Tales (@PolitiKatTales) July 14, 2026
ABC News shared more context:
On Monday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced he was appointing Darline Graham to serve in Lindsey Graham’s place until the term ends in early January. President Donald Trump also supported the appointment, calling it a fabulous tribute” to Lindsey Graham, who at a young age became Darline Graham’s legal guardian after the deaths of their parents.
“Lindsey has always been there for me. And now I will be there for him,” Darline Graham said on Monday…
After their parents died when Lindsey Graham was 22 years old, he took on a caretaker role for Darline Graham, then 13, and became her legal guardian. Talking to C-SPAN in 2015, Lindsey Graham said his sister’s success was “the highlight” of his life “by far.”
Their close relationship was evident throughout Lindsey Graham’s political career. Darline Graham appeared with him several times on the campaign trail and in campaign videos.
ADVERTISEMENT“It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States,” she said on Monday.
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