Darline Graham Nordone was sworn in Tuesday afternoon to complete the Senate term of her late brother, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly on Saturday. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Nordone on Monday to fill the vacancy.
Senate president pro tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) administered the oath of office to Nordone, a 62-year-old wife, mother of two, and grandmother. She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate and will serve until her successor is sworn in on January 3, 2027.
"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," Nordone said at a press conference following her appointment.
Though Nordone has no prior elected office experience, she has a career in public service. Since 2019, she has served as Commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, where she focused on expanding employment and independence for individuals with low vision. She previously held roles with Clemson University and state departments of employment and workforce development for nearly 30 years. Nordone also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and is president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind.
She holds a bachelor's degree from the College of Charleston and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling. She is also a Certified Public Manager.
Former President Donald Trump and several South Carolina Republican lawmakers had endorsed Nordone to succeed her brother. Trump publicly recommended her appointment to Governor McMaster, calling it a "fabulous tribute to Lindsey."
Congress has a history of family members succeeding loved ones in office. According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, eight widows have replaced their husbands in the Senate, and 39 instances have occurred in the House. The most recent Senate appointment was Jean Carnahan in 2001, who was appointed after her husband was posthumously elected following his death in a plane crash.
Senator Lindsey Graham died at age 71 after suffering a tear in his aorta, according to preliminary findings from the Washington D.C. medical examiner's office, which attributed the rupture to chronic heart disease.
The South Carolina Republican Party is scheduled to hold a special primary election on August 11 to select a candidate to run on the November ballot for the remainder of Graham's term.