In a significant political development, Darline Graham Nordone has assumed the position of her late brother, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 71. She will now represent South Carolina in Washington D.C.
Before the official ceremony, Nordone was seen wiping away tears in a solemn moment, as she paused at her brother’s Senate desk, which was adorned with a black drape in his memory.
Nordone’s brief appearance on the Senate floor included being officially sworn in by Iowa’s Senator Chuck Grassley. She is entrusted with completing the remainder of her brother’s term in office.
During the swearing-in, Tim Scott, a fellow senator from South Carolina and a long-time friend of Lindsey Graham, stood supportively by Nordone’s side. She chose not to make any statements to the Senate chamber afterward.
While it is not unusual for a family member to step into a vacated Senate seat, Nordone, at 62, marks a historical first by becoming the first sibling to assume such a role following the death of a senator.
All other previous appointments have been either spouses or children.
Her new Republican colleague, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, was appointed by her father Frank Murkowski, after he ran for governor and resigned from the Senate.
House Republican Julia Letlow, who is the GOP nominee for US Senate in Louisiana this year, took over the seat of her former husband Luke in a special election after he passed away from COVID in 2021 before he could be sworn in to the office.
Darline wiped away tears after visiting her late brother’s desk cloaked in a black drape
Darline Graham Nordone was sworn in to the US Senate by Senator Chuck Grassley, who serves as the President pro tempore of the body, to fill the seat of her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham. Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina looks on
Nordone signs paperwork after being sworn in to the US Senate to fill the seat of her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham
With support of President Donald Trump, South Carolina Republican Governor Henry McMaster appointed Nordone to finish out Graham’s term, which expires in January.
To fill the seat permanently, the Republicans have a primary scheduled for August 11. That contest will advance to a runoff on August 25 if no single candidate wins a majority of votes.
Graham’s sister told reporters that it was ‘a privilege’ to help finish Graham’s ‘important work.’
Darline Graham Nordone, with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, right, and Senator Tim Scott, left, speaks to members of the press after being appointed of to fill the vacancy created by the passing of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham
South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, right, hugs his sister Darline Graham Nordone, after announcing his bid for president in June 2015
‘My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader, and just a genuinely good man,’ she said.
‘I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way.’
President Trump commended the decision to pick Nordone, saying the appointment is a ‘fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly.’
Nordone and Graham enjoyed a close relationship. He adopted her at the age of 22 when she was just 13, after the passing of both of their parents. She has never served in public office before.
The siblings grew up sharing a single room behind the Sanitary Cafe, the bar, pool hall, and liquor store their parents ran on Main Street in the small town of Central, South Carolina.
The family later moved into a trailer and then a house next door to the bar.
Darline Graham Nordone, sister of Sen. Lindsey Graham walks to the stage before his announcement for president on Monday, June 1, 2015, in Central, South Carolina
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Lindsey Graham, accompanied by his sister Darline, left, speaks at the GOP headquarters in Columbia, SC, in 2015
Darline leaned on her big brother long before they were orphaned, running to him whenever she was sick or stuck on her homework.
He taught her to ride a bike, sprinting alongside and shouting encouragement, and picked her up when she fell.
‘He’s kind of like a brother, a father and a mother rolled into one,’ she told the New York Times in 2015.
Their mother died of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1976, and a heart attack claimed their father a little more than a year later.
Darline moved in with an aunt and uncle while Graham finished his studies at the University of South Carolina.
He gave up his weekends to travel home and care for her while his classmates stayed on campus to enjoy themselves.
Lindsey Graham, his sister Darline and their parents, Millie Walters Graham and Florence James ‘FJ’ Graham. Their mother died of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1976, and a heart attack claimed their father a little more than a year later
Darline tearfully recalled the day they were left orphaned in a recent ad for Graham’s re-election campaign. ‘Lindsey came running in and just grabbed me up and hugged me. He was like, “I am so sorry, but it’s going to be OK. I’m going to take care of you.” And he did. He’s always been there for me’
He then enlisted in the Air Force, where his guardianship of Darline allowed her to qualify for his benefits, and she has credited him with getting her through high school and on to college.
She went on to become a mother of two and built a career helping people with disabilities find work, a success her brother wore as a badge of honor.
‘Of all the things that have happened in my life, her turning out so well is the highlight of it by far,’ Graham told C-SPAN in 2015.
Darline introduced him on stage when he launched his White House bid in their hometown in 2015.
‘Lindsey was always my parent,’ she said at the time. ‘There was no doubt in my mind or anyone else’s mind that Lindsey was my guardian.’
The vacancy for South Carolina’s Senate seat was created by Graham’s unexpected death, which was announced just after 2am Eastern time Sunday morning.
Per a statement issued by his office just before 5pm that day, ‘aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease,’ was the cause of death.
‘The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,’ Graham’s spokesman added.
A 911 call for ‘cardiac arrest’ was placed from Graham’s residence around 8.30pm on Saturday evening.