South Carolina has a new senator following the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham. The Darline Graham Nordone Senate appointment fills the vacancy left after Graham’s passing and marks a significant moment for the state, which will have its first female senator. Here is what’s known so far.
Governor McMaster made the appointment official on Monday
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced the Darline Graham Nordone Senate appointment at a press conference at the statehouse in Columbia. Nordone will serve out the remainder of her brother’s term, which runs through Jan. 3.
Senator Graham died unexpectedly over the weekend
Sen. Lindsey Graham died Saturday at age 71. Preliminary findings released by his office and the District of Columbia medical examiner point to an aortic dissection related to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. He had been seeking a fifth term in the Senate and had won his Republican primary just weeks earlier.
Trump publicly recommended her for the role
The Darline Graham Nordone Senate appointment came hours after President Trump posted on Truth Social recommending her for the position, describing it as “a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott both voiced support for the pick shortly after.
She has a long personal and professional history tied to her brother
Graham became his sister’s legal guardian after their parents died within about a year of each other when Darline was 13, and he later adopted her so she could access his military benefits from his service in the Air Force. She has spoken publicly in the past about their close relationship growing up in Central, South Carolina.
She currently works in disability advocacy
Nordone, 62, has not previously held elected office. She currently serves as a commissioner for the South Carolina Commission for the Blind and has a long record of public service focused on supporting people with disabilities.
She’ll be the state’s first female senator
Once sworn in, the Darline Graham Nordone Senate appointment will make her the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate, a notable milestone for the state.
A separate special election will decide the full term
Because Graham was mid-reelection campaign at the time of his death, South Carolina will hold a special primary election on Aug. 11 to determine who runs for the full six-year term. Several Republican members of the state’s House delegation, including Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, have indicated interest in entering that race. The eventual primary winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the November general election.
It’s not yet clear if she’ll seek the seat permanently
As of now, it has not been confirmed whether Nordone intends to run in the special primary to keep the seat beyond the interim appointment, or whether she is filling the role strictly through the end of her brother’s term.
