Chief South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham died of an aortic tear on Saturday, leaving a Senate vacancy that lawmakers must fill.
Governor Henry McMaster swiftly appointed Darline Graham Nordone, his former sister and close ally, as the interim secretary of the state’s U.S. Senate seat. Nordone, who once helped people with disabilities find jobs and has never held public office, said she honored the dead Senator’s wish to finish his work.
Graham, 71, had been re‑elected in 2024 and continued to push a foreign‑policy agenda before his death, which followed a recent trip to Kyiv. His replacement will serve until January 2027, the length of the seat’s term.
The move follows a long U.S. congressional tradition: 45 widowed women and other family members have succeeded late spouses or relatives in Congress since 2008. It also highlights the sudden shift Republicans face as they race to hold a senate majority.
For now, the senate will pause until Nordone’s appointment is confirmed,keeping the chamber operating until the next day’s proceedings.
