Lindsey Graham's sister picked to take over Senate seat

WASHINGTON (CN) — Senator Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, will replace the late lawmaker in Washington after he died suddenly over the weekend, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced Monday.

The temporary appointment will only last until the end of Graham’s term in November, and an official Republican candidate will be selected later this summer. But the late senator’s younger sister vowed to use her time on Capitol Hill to finish Graham’s work and support President Donald Trump.

“My brother was the most amazing person, an outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man,” Graham Nordone said during a news conference Monday afternoon. “He worked nonstop to make our state, country and world better.”

Graham, 71, died late Saturday night shortly after returning from a trip to Ukraine. His sudden death, reportedly due to complications from cardiovascular disease, drew an outpouring of remorse from members of Congress and political figures from both sides of the aisle.

Under South Carolina law, the governor has authority to name a temporary successor to any senator who dies in office. And ahead of Monday’s announcement, it had widely been speculated that Graham’s younger sister was first in line for that role. Trump himself said in a social media post that he’d recommended McMaster tap Graham Nordone to replace her brother in the Senate.

“This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!” wrote the president.

McMaster said he’d asked Graham Nordone to serve as an interim senator “in the wee hours” of Sunday morning, shortly after Graham had died. “I was humbled by your quickness to see the duty you had to serve,” he told her during Monday’s news conference. “I called the president afterward, and he thought it was a great idea.”

Graham Nordone, an employment specialist, was raised in part by her older brother after the deaths of their parents. Graham formally adopted her before he joined the U.S. Air Force in a move aimed at ensuring she received military benefits.

And, as she accepted her appointment to the U.S. Senate, Graham’s sister said she was “confident” in her ability to continue his work in Congress.

“I promise 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,” said Graham Nordone.

On Capitol Hill, top Republicans expressed support for Graham Nordone’s appointment.

“I applaud Governor McMaster’s decision to appoint Darline Graham Nordone to replace her brother and our friend, Lindsey Graham, in the U.S. Senate,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in a statement. “Lindsey’s legacy will continue through Darline, and I look forward to welcoming her soon.”

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said there was “nobody better” to continue Graham’s work in the Senate than his younger sister. “She will work just as hard for South Carolina as Lindsey always did,” he added.

The late Graham was widely expected to win reelection in his upcoming reelection fight. And while South Carolina remains likely a safe Republican seat in the midterm elections, it’s unclear yet who will run to fill the lawmaker’s spot on a full-time basis.

Several current GOP lawmakers have been named as possible nominees, such as Representative Ralph Norman and Representative Nancy Mace. Norman reportedly asked Trump for his endorsement to run for Graham’s Senate seat. Mace, for her part, has said she is polling for a potential run.

It’s unclear whether Graham Nordone will throw her own hat in the ring, though McMaster said Monday that she will see through the end of her brother’s term.

A special primary will be held on Aug. 11 — candidates have until July 28 to file. If no winner is declared in the primary, a runoff election will be held at the end of August. The Republican nominee will face Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in November’s midterm election.

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