McMaster to appoint Lindsey Graham's sister as senator
PUBLISHED Jul 13, 2026, 2:03 PM ET
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Columbia, South Carolina. Gov. Henry McMaster announced he will appoint Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, to serve the remainder of Graham's U.S. Senate term at a 4 p.m. ET press conference this afternoon; the appointee will serve until at least Jan. 3, 2027. Washington and South Carolina responses were immediate: President Donald Trump publicly recommended Nordone on Truth Social this week, and Republican leaders including Sen. Tim Scott and Sen. John Thune expressed support; a special Republican primary for the November ballot is scheduled for Aug. 11, and the winner will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election.
By Michael Grant | JQJO News
Aggregated From:
Timeline of Events
- Lindsey Graham became legal guardian and later adopted his sister Darline when they were young adults.
- Graham was running for re-election prior to his sudden death on July 11.
- July 11: Sen. Lindsey Graham died; preliminary medical examiner findings cited an aortic dissection.
- July 13: President Trump publicly recommended Darline Graham Nordone for the interim appointment.
- July 13 (4 p.m. ET): Gov. McMaster announced the interim appointment; special Republican primary set for Aug. 11.
News Intelligence
- This appointment affects who represents South Carolina in the U.S. Senate until
- 2
- 0
- 2
- It could influence federal laws and policies. If you're a South Carolina voter, mark Aug. 11 on your calendar for the special Republican primary.
- Articles Published:
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- Right Leaning:
- 1
- Left Leaning:
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- Neutral:
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- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 86%, Right 14%
Darline Graham Nordone benefits from the gubernatorial appointment, receiving interim Senate incumbency, increased national profile, and an advantage in name recognition ahead of the special election.
Other prospective Republican candidates and some voters face altered ballot dynamics and compressed timelines due to the interim appointment and special primary scheduling.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
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From Center
McMaster to appoint Lindsey Graham's sister as senator
100 Percent Fed Up Post and Courier Internewscast Journal Post and Courier WCBD 2 - Charleston The Journal of Blacks in Higher EducationFrom Right
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to Announce Lindsey Graham's Replacement
Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion
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