Senator Lindsey Graham died on July 11, 2026, at age 71 from an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease [1, 2, 3]. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, 62, as interim US Senator on July 13, and she was sworn in the following day to serve out the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2027 [1, 4, 5, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8].

Darline Graham Nordone had no prior elected office experience but worked in South Carolina government, including as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind since 2019 [2, 3, 6, 8]. Notably, Lindsey Graham legally adopted her as a teenager after their parents died, so she could receive his military benefits and serve as his first lady if he became president [1, 8]. Governor McMaster said, "Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed. It’s my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham, to finish his work for him now" [5]. Nordone told reporters, "Lindsey has always been there for me and now I will be there for him" and pledged to support the president and carry forward her brother’s efforts during her tenure [1, 2, 6].

President Donald Trump publicly recommended Nordone’s appointment, calling it "a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly" and praising McMaster’s choice as "fantastic" [9, 10, 11, 6]. Nordone’s appointment restored the Republican Senate majority to 52 seats, which had dropped to 51 after Lindsey Graham’s death [4, 12, 6]. With Nordone joining, the Senate has a record 27 women serving simultaneously [2, 3].

A special Republican primary to select the party’s permanent nominee for the November 2026 general election is scheduled for August 11, with filing opening July 21. Nordone will not run in that primary [9, 4, 2, 3, 12, 10, 6]. Potential candidates include Representative Nancy Mace and South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette [2, 3, 10].

Nordone’s interim tenure will last through January 3, 2027, when the winner of the special election will be sworn in [5, 2, 3].