South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced Monday that he will appoint the late Senator Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily represent the state in the United States Senate.
The announcement came shortly after President Donald Trump publicly called on McMaster to select Nordone as a tribute to Graham, who passed away unexpectedly over the weekend at the age of 71.
“I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”
McMaster accepted the president’s recommendation and selected Nordone to serve through the conclusion of Graham’s current term in January.
Nordone is expected to be sworn into office Wednesday. The appointment carries enormous personal significance.
After Graham’s mother and father died within approximately 15 months of one another, the future senator assumed responsibility for raising his younger sister. Graham became Nordone’s legal guardian while she was still a teenager, and the siblings remained exceptionally close throughout his life.