South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has appointed Darline Graham Nordone, the late Senator Lindsey Graham's sister, to fill his Senate seat on an interim basis. As Trending Politics reported, the announcement came at a 4 p.m. press conference on Sunday, one day after Graham passed away following a cardiac event Saturday evening.
McMaster said he called Nordone early Sunday morning to ask if she would serve, then ran the idea past President Trump, who reportedly endorsed it "wholeheartedly." And by "wholeheartedly" they apparently mean Trump was already on Truth Social making the recommendation before the governor even held his press conference. Classic.
"I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham's wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina. This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly," Trump posted. When the president of the United States publicly recommends someone for the job before the governor announces it, that is what we in the business call a very strong suggestion.
Nordone, who also goes by Darline Graham, thanked the governor and the people of South Carolina for the "honor and privilege" of continuing her brother's work and pledged to support the president's agenda. Senate Majority Leader John Thune chimed in that the pick would "make a lot of sense," which is the senatorial equivalent of a shoulder shrug and a thumbs up.
Nordone has lived a relatively private life compared to her brother, who spent over two decades in the Senate after taking the seat in 2003. Graham never married, had no children, and frequently described his sister as a key part of his support system. So while she has not held public office before, she is about to learn very quickly what it feels like to vote on amendments at two in the morning while someone reads the phone book on the Senate floor.
Under South Carolina law, McMaster has the authority to fill Senate vacancies by appointment until a special election can be held. Nordone will serve the remainder of Graham's term, which expires in January 2027. Since Graham had already locked up the Republican nomination for the 2026 general election before his death, state procedures now call for a special primary on August 11 to pick a new GOP nominee, followed by the general election in November.
The winner of that process gets the full six-year term starting in January 2027, and the early list of potential candidates reads like a who's who of South Carolina Republicans who just finished running for governor. Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, who narrowly lost a gubernatorial runoff to Attorney General Alan Wilson last month, is reportedly in the conversation. U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace, both of whom also ran in the gubernatorial primary, have also been mentioned.
Nothing says political ambition quite like losing one race and immediately eyeing the next available seat. You have to respect the hustle.
Read more breaking news stories at: Trending Politics News
