Lindsey Graham's Sister Selected to Serve Late Brother's Term
The sister of the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has been selected to serve out the remainder of his term before the next election following his passing last weekend.
During a press conference Monday afternoon, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced that Darline Graham Nordone, Graham's younger sister, would serve out the late senator's term.
"Lindsey was loved and respected by many," Nordone said at the press conference.
She added that the "shared experiences" of those commemorating her brother, as well as "our faith, have gotten us through these two very difficult days."
"Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him," she continued. "My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man."
"He was kind and considerate and loved by his family dearly. As I think everyone would agree, Lindsey worked harder than anyone. He worked nonstop to make our state, country and world better."
Graham, a former GOP presidential candidate in 2016 and an Air Force veteran, passed away after a "brief and sudden illness."
He had reportedly died suddenly due to a tear in his aorta in light of a hardening in his arteries, The Christian Post reported. The medical emergency occurred after his return to the U.S. from Ukraine.
Graham, a former GOP presidential candidate in 2016 and an Air Force veteran, passed away from a "brief and sudden illness."
He had reportedly died suddenly due to a tear in his aorta in light of a hardening in his arteries, The Christian Post reported. The medical emergency occurred after his return to the U.S. from Ukraine.
He also worked with President Trump on several policy occasions, despite initially being a strong critic of the president during the 2016 Republican presidential primary season.
During NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Trump said that he considered Graham to be "like a member of the family" and commented on the late senator's ability to collaborate with ideological opponents.
"He was such an advocate. If he wanted to get something, he had a unique ability to deal with Democrats and Republicans," Trump said. "If [I] had a problem — a real problem — I wouldn't often ask. But if I had a problem with a Democrat, he could work it out. He was a great politician, actually."
Trump also advocated for Nordone to be selected to take her brother's place after his death.
"I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham's wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina. This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!" Trump wrote on Monday on Truth Social.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Tom Brenner/Stringer
Originally published July 15, 2026.
