South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) Monday appointed Darline Graham Nordone, Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R) sister, to finish out the late Senator’s term and fill the vacant seat left by his unexpected death Saturday.
“Lindsey Graham recognized the greatness of America, the seriousness of his work, and also the value of human and lighthearted spirit,” McMaster said in a press release. He understood the hopes, dreams, and needs of his state and delivered for his state every time,” “Today, under the law, it is my duty and honor to name someone to serve in the place of this extraordinary man for the remainder of his term. It is my honor to ask his little sister, Darline, to finish his work.”
Graham, a vocal advocate for the Savannah River Site, died suddenly over the weekend at age 71.
Under South Carolina law, the governor can fill a vacancy in the Senate through appointment until a successor is elected, so Nordone will serve until Graham’s term expires on Jan. 3, 2027. Filing for a special primary election is open July 21 through July 28, 2026, and the special primary will be held Aug. 11, with a runoff Aug. 25 if necessary. The regular, general election will go ahead as scheduled Nov. 3, 2026.
While Nordone has not held office before, she has been Commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, where she worked with blind or vision-impaired South Carolinians to help them with employment and independence, since 2019. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree there in rehabilitation counseling.
After both of their parents died when Graham was 22 and Nordone was 13, he became her legal guardian and helped raise her, according to an article by outlet WAVY News Monday.