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It's Official: Lindsey Graham's Sister Appointed to Serve the Remainder of His Senate Term

Matt Vespa
Matt Vespa  |  July 13, 2026 2:05 PM

UPDATE: Gov. McMaster has selected Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve the rest of his term.


***Original Post***

It’s no longer speculation. It appears to be a done deal: Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, will serve out the remainder of her brother’s term in the US Senate. Cam already mentioned this was the likely choice, even though the shadow primary is currently underway. Both President Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune support Gov. Henry McMaster for the interim appointment, so it seems likely to happen.

Sen. Graham died suddenly on Saturday after a trip to Ukraine. According to initial reports, the cause was an aortic dissection. He was 71. The South Carolina Republican was scheduled to appear on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. 

Former Gov. Nikki Haley already took herself out of the running, along with Rep. Joe Wilson, who was seen as the frontrunner no less than 36 hours ago. 

Graham had already won his state’s primary a month ago. The state GOP will have to pick someone else in a lightning primary scheduled for July 28. 

Chad Pergram has more:

Late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) had already secured the GOP nomination to be on the ballot this fall for a fifth term. So it’s likely that South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) will tap someone to serve out the balance of his term. 

[…]

Under South Carolina law, the GOP would likely have a “lightning” primary, sometime in the next five or six weeks to pick who to succeed Graham on the ballot.

The winner of that primary would then be up on the general election ballot in November. Whoever the GOP picks will be on the ballot against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November. The winner there would then be in place for the entire six-year term beginning in January, 2027.

In addition, Senate Republicans will need to find another chairman of the Budget Committee. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is next in line. But he currently chairs Judiciary.

The death of Graham probably makes it very tough to get budget reconciliation 3.0 done. That’s to say nothing about confirming Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche or even getting that nominee out of committee.

And remember that we have scant information about the status of former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who has been hospitalized for a month.

Graham was working on some key pieces of legislation that are now in peril with his passing.