Darline Graham appointed to U.S. Senate seat, brings disability-advocacy background

Darline Graham, 62, was sworn in this week to serve the remainder of the U.S. Senate term left vacant by her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, whose death prompted the appointment. Unlike her late brother, who served for more than three decades, Graham has never held elected office; her career has been rooted in publicly funded vocational rehabilitation programs that assist people with disabilities in finding employment.

Colleagues and disability advocates describe Graham as a dedicated civil servant with deep knowledge of the challenges faced by the disability community. Kimberly Tissot, president of Able South Carolina, said, "She loved her brother. He raised her," and added that Graham’s focus has always been on family and employment issues rather than partisan politics. Tissot noted that Graham helped shepherd a 2022 state law that eliminated sub-minimum wages for workers with disabilities, a measure that passed with bipartisan support.

Graham has also led South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind since 2019, overseeing employment and training initiatives for blind and low-vision residents. David Houck, executive director of the Federation Center of the Blind, praised her experience and said the blind community in the state backs her appointment.

In her first public remarks as senator, Graham pledged to "work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States." She has made a single political contribution on record—a $100 donation to former state Sen. Katrina Shealy’s 2020 re-election campaign.

The appointment comes as federal policy proposals, including Medicaid cuts and changes to special-education oversight, raise concerns among disability advocates about potential impacts on services. Graham’s interim tenure is set to last until January 2027, when the next elected senator will assume the seat.