The only surviving member of the family of Sen. Lindsey Graham said on Monday that she is at a loss, after the death of her brother after he suffered a fatal heart attack Saturday night.
By Catholics for Catholics
South Carolina’s Gov. Henry McMaster said on Monday that he would appoint Senator Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to conclude his Senate term, after Graham’s death on Saturday.
Standing next to Nordone at a news conference, McMaster said it behooved him under the law to choose someone “to serve in the place of this irresistible man, this irreplaceable man, this extraordinary man, for the remainder of his term.”
Nordone, the only surviving member of the family of Sen. Lindsey Graham said on Monday that she is at a loss after the death of her brother; he suffered a fatal heart attack Saturday night.
Still, President Donald Trump recommended Graham’s “wonderful sister,” Darline Graham Nordone, to serve as interim senator until a special election can be held.
“Actually, I’m just kind of like devastated right now,” said Nordone to the New York Post in a brief phone call when reached minutes after Trump’s endorsement.
In a Truth Social post Monday, Trump said he recommended Nordone to South Carolina Gov. McMaster as the interim replacement for the longtime Republican senator, according to a story by Newsmax.
Darline Graham Nordone, Lindsey Graham's sister, is officially appointed to fill the late senator's seat.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 13, 2026
“Lindsay has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him,” Nordone said. “It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work.”… pic.twitter.com/VIWdty23Cd
“I recommended to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,” Trump wrote. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”
According to the Newsmax story, Graham’s death leaves behind a deeply personal story. After their parents perished when they were young, he raised his younger sister and later became her legal guardian. The two persisted and were close all the way through his life, and she stood beside him earlier this year as he filed for reelection, joined by her children and grandchildren.
