South Carolina governor appoints Lindsey Graham's sister to finish his Senate term

Source: NBC News

July 13, 2026, 12:56 PM EDT / Updated July 13, 2026, 4:10 PM EDT


South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday appointed Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of Sen. Lindsey Graham, to serve the remainder of the late Republican senator’s term, which ends in early January.

“Today, under the law, it’s my duty to and honor to name someone to serve in the place of this irresistible man, this irreplaceable man, this extraordinary man, for the remainder. remainder of his term,” McMaster, a Republican, said at a news conference. “Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed. It’s my honor to ask his little sister Darline Graham to finish his work for him now.”

The appointment came hours after Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social that he had recommended that McMaster choose her for the temporary post, saying it would be “a fabulous tribute to Lindsey.”

Graham Nordone will finish her brother’s six-year term in the Senate, which ends Jan. 3. The senator died Saturday at the age of 71 of what was preliminarily diagnosed as a rupture of his aorta due to a hardening of his arteries, his office said Sunday.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/trump-lindsey-graham-sister-darline-mcmaster-appoint-senate-term-rcna587302