South Carolina Governor to Appoint Lindsey Graham's Sister as Interim Senator
Governor Henry McMaster will name Darline Graham Nordone, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, to serve the remainder of the Senate term until January.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is expected to announce the appointment of Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, to fill the vacant Senate seat until the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3. The governor will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. to confirm the interim selection, which will allow Nordone to serve through the end of the current term.
President Donald Trump, Sen. Tim Scott and other Republican leaders have expressed support for the choice. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the decision “makes a lot of sense.” Trump posted on his social-media platform that he recommended Nordone to McMaster, describing the appointment as a tribute to Graham. Scott told “CBS Mornings” that Nordone would be a “wonderful placeholder” and said he had spoken with her in the past day.
Graham, who died at 71 from an aortic dissection, had been seeking reelection. A special Republican primary is scheduled for Aug. 11 to select a candidate for the November ballot, which will determine who serves the full six-year term beginning in 2025. Nordone has previously attended Graham’s political events and was under his legal guardianship after their parents died when she was a teenager. She is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday, with Scott likely attending the announcement.