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South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced his pick to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Lindsey Graham's death.

South Carolina's Governor Appoints Lindsey Graham's Sister To Fill His Senate Seat Update (1900ET): Gov. Henry McMaster (R-S.C.) appointed Darline Graham Nordone, the late senator’s younger sister, to take his place in the Senate until the election in November. “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him,” Nordone told reporters at a press conference with McMaster on Monday afternoon. “It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and 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.” “To Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words,” she added. “But I’m going to do this. I got it.” As Chris Queen reports for PJMedia.com, Nordone’s name came up when President Donald Trump suggested that McMaster nominate her in a post on Truth Social: "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! President DONALD J. TRUMP" CNN reports: Under state law, McMaster can appoint a temporary replacement to fill Graham’s vacant seat. But because Graham was up for reelection this year, his death will kick off a sprint primary election to replace him on the November ballot. Ahead of the press conference, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told CNN’s Dana Bash that he spoke Sunday with both Nordone and McMaster. “I’ll let the governor make an announcement about that, but that certainly in my view makes a lot of sense,” Thune said. “In many respects, it would be a way of extending Lindsey’s legacy here and certainly something that, if that’s what they decide to end up doing, I think there’d be a lot of support for it.” NewsNation reports that Nordone hasn’t spoken publicly since her brother’s death until the press conference, noting, “Graham Nordone declined interview requests following the news of her brother’s death, saying it was ‘still too raw’ to come out and say anything yet.” My friend and colleague Sarah Anderson wrote on Sunday night about the wonderful relationship Graham and Nordone have had with each other over the years: After graduating high school, Graham's college years were wrought with tragedy. When he was just 20 years old, his mother died from Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was the one who had to break the news to his little sister.  A little over a year later, his father died in his sleep after having a heart attack. Darline, who discovered their father dead, was only 13 years old at the time. Graham rushed home from school to comfort his sister. "Lindsey wrapped his arms around me and promised me he would always be there for me and always take care of me," she once said in an interview.  He didn't have to do it. What young man, at the age of 21 or 22, with his whole life ahead, wants to put everything on hold and help raise a young girl and take over a family business? But that's exactly what he did. He came from college every single weekend to spend time with his sister and manage the bar.  Like many others, I had my doubts about appointing Nordone, but as the day has drawn on, I realized that she’s a perfect caretaker for the seat since she’ll fulfill her brother’s vision. Then November's election can take care of itself. Knowing how red South Carolina is, I have no reason to worry whether this seat will stay in safe hands. *  *  * While plenty of jaws are still agape following Saturday night's shockingly sudden death of Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, scheming over his vacant seat is already well underway. With Graham having been a chief champion of the West's proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, and a zealous collaborator with Israel in promoting American warfare against Iran, it's not just South Carolinians who are concerned about their representation in Washington.   There are two separate tracks in this succession drama. First, under South Carolina law, Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster must appoint someone to represent the state for the balance of Graham's fifth term, which runs through January 3. As you watch the scramble for U.S. Senate in South Carolina... Lindsey Graham was sworn on January 3, 2003, succeeding Strom Thurmond. Thurmond took that seat on November 7, 1956. That's only two Senators in nearly 70 years. July 13, 2026 Separately, South Carolina Republicans must choose a new nominee for November's general election. Candidates can officially file starting July 21, with the window shutting on July 28. Then, a special primary election will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 11. If no candidate scores not just a plurality but a majority of the votes, the top two vote-getters would advance to a runoff election on Aug. 25. Before Graham's death, the Cook Political Report rated the Palmetto State "safe" for continued GOP control. It's doubtful that status will change no matter whom Republicans pick to go up against Democrat pediatrician Annie Andrews in November. In his 2020 re-election, Graham coasted to a 10-point win over his Democratic opponent.    McMaster doesn't have a firm deadline for naming a temporary replacement, but choosing someone quickly gives him a potent opportunity to give someone a leg up in the primary race for the term that starts in January. As an alternative, he could go in the opposite direction and appoint a "caretaker" who has no ambition to hold the seat after the end of the year. McMaster, who is term-limited and will stop being governor in January, could conceivably appoint himself the interim senator, which would have Lt Gov Pamela Evette ascend to the governor's desk.   With Graham's body still cooling, the man he trounced in the June primary -- businessman Mark Lynch -- wasted no time in announcing he will be a candidate in the special primary. On Sunday evening, Lynch committed $5 million to "finish the race we started." Amusingly, earlier in the day, Lynch had said, "today is not a day for politics."  President Trump, whose endorsement is still powerful within the GOP despite his own crumbling popularity, declined on Sunday to tell NBC News whom he prefers for the seat. “I have somebody that I think would be great, but I don’t want to say it now because it’s just, you know, it’s too soon with Lindsey," Trump said. "I don’t want to even talk about anybody, but I do have somebody that I think is really good.” “Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in…” pic.twitter.com/1AzRMPAEuc July 12, 2026 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky are certainly among those most sorry to learn that Graham suddenly died. Graham was easily one of the most hawkish figures in Washington, and was constantly working with both foreign leaders to help keep US money and weapons flowing in their direction. In that light, they may have hoped that former South Carolina governor and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley would pursue the seat. However, a spokesman told Politico's Alec Hernandez that Haley "has no plans to run for office at this time." Other potential opponents for Lynch include:  Rep. Nancy Mace. She's poised to hand over her House seat in January, having foregone reelection for a failed bid for governor this year. She is actively considering a run for Graham's seat, according to Politico and The New York Times. Their reporting is reinforced by Mace's posting of a clip from Godfather III, in which Michael Corleone says the classic line, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." Rep. Russell Fry. The 41-year-old Trump ally currently represents South Carolina's solidly-Republican 7th Congressional District. In un-Lindsey Graham fashion, Fry was one of a few dozen Republicans who voted in 2023 to direct President Biden to pull troops out of Syria within 180 days.   Rep. Ralph Norman. At 73 years old, the hard-right Norman is two years older than the dead Graham and would test America's growing fatigue with Congress being a gerontocracy. Norman reportedly called Trump on Sunday to discuss a potential endorsement. Trump was said to have replied, "Give me a week." Norman's expected to make some kind of announcement about his intentions on Tuesday, and South Carolina outlet FITS News says he's running.  Rep. Joe Wilson. Famed for yelling "you lie!" at President Obama during an address to Congress in 2009, Wilson's name has been circulating. However, on Sunday night he signaled that he wouldn't be running. "I was grateful to speak with President Trump today reminiscing about our mutual friend, Senator Lindsey Graham," Wilson tweeted. "I assured him my goal is to remain in the House to keep his two-vote majority for the American people!!!"  Lt Gov Pamela Evette. She tried for the governor nomination this year, but lost to Alan Wilson, son of firebrand Rep. Joe Wilson. In an odd move, Trump endorsed both of them for the GOP nomination.  There could be a crowded field, which would elevate the chances that a runoff would be needed. Within about 30 hours of each other, America saw two Grahams exit their Senate races in a bad way -- Lindsey Graham via heart failure, and Maine Democratic hopeful Graham Platner via being on the wrong end of a sex-assault accusation. Between the South Carolina special primary election and Maine Democrats picking a new candidate at a rushed convention this month, the entertainment is stacking up for political junkies in the dog days of summer 2026.  Tyler Durden Mon, 07/13/2026 - 19:30

Gov. Henry McMaster of South Carolina named Darline Graham Nordone to replace Mr. Graham, who died on Saturday.

Darline Graham Nordone has been appointed to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's Senate seat. Here's what we know about her net worth.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham died Saturday of an aortic dissection and cardiovascular disease. The Republican served more than 30 years in Congress, becoming one of the nation's most prominent voices on foreign policy and later one of President Trump's top allies. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins has more on Graham's life and impact.

South Carolina governor chooses Darline Graham Nordone to serve the rest of the late US senator's term until early 2027.

Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC) picked Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-SC) sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve as interim senator, and complete the remainder of her brother's term. The post South Carolina Gov. Appoints Darline Graham Nordone to Finish Lindsey Graham’s Term appeared first on Breitbart.

Mark Lynch, who lost to late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in the GOP Senate primary last month, said Monday he will seek the nomination to replace the longtime South Carolina lawmaker on the ballot after the latter died on Saturday.  “A lot of you have asked. Yes, it’s official,” Lynch wrote on social platform X.…

South Carolina governor asks Darline Graham Nordone to replace senator who died on Saturday, after Trump recommendation Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Henry McMaster, South Carolina’s governor, appointed Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to replace him in the Senate following his death on Saturday, after Donald Trump recommended that she be given the role. Her appointment was welcomed by lawmakers from both parties, who saw Nordone as an appropriate replacement for the brother who had raised her after their parents died when she was a teenager. Continue reading...

The South Carolina governor chose the senator's little sister to serve out the rest of his term after Graham's death on Saturday.

The death of Sen. Lindsey Graham ignited a scramble among South Carolina Republicans to prepare for a special primary election to replace him on the GOP ticket.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appoints Darline Graham Nordone, Sen. Lindsey Graham's younger sister, to serve the remainder of the late Republican senator's term, which ends early January 2027.

South Carolina's governor says he is appointing Darline Graham to finish the term of her late brother. Top Republicans, including President Trump, have coalesced around the pick.

The death of US Senator Lindsey Graham has removed one of Washington’s most influential advocates of a hardline approach towards China at a moment when Republicans are debating how aggressively the United States should confront Beijing and project military power overseas. On Monday, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to fill the vacant Senate seat. McMaster said he spoke with Nordone by phone on Sunday and she agreed to serve. Attention is...

Graham, one of Trump's closest allies in the Senate, died over the weekend after a brief illness.

The one thing Graham was consistent about was his enthusiasm for foreign wars.

The sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham prompted condolences Sunday from President Donald Trump, world leaders, and a bipartisan list of lawmakers.

Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina died suddenly Saturday at the age of 71.

Lindsey Graham’s death has prompted glowing tributes from Western leaders, but his record on Gaza, Iran and Ukraine tells a far darker story Read Full Article at RT.com