The Senate is scheduled to swear in Darline Graham on Tuesday afternoon to complete the remainder of her late brother Lindsey Graham's term. The swearing-in ceremony will take place on the Senate floor at 2:30 p.m.
Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, died over the weekend at the age of 71. On Monday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced his appointment of Darline Graham to serve in her brother's place until the term concludes in early January. President Donald Trump supported the appointment, calling it a "fabulous tribute" to Lindsey Graham, who became Darline Graham's legal guardian at a young age after their parents' deaths.
"Lindsey has always been there for me. And now I will be there for him," Darline Graham said Monday.
Darline Graham, a resident of Lexington, South Carolina, has served since 2019 as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, according to a biography provided by Gov. McMaster's office. She also holds positions on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and is president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind. Her previous roles include work with Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, and the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
She earned a bachelor's degree from the College of Charleston and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, and she is a certified public manager. Darline Graham is a mother of two.
Lindsey Graham assumed a caretaker role for his sister, then 13, and became her legal guardian after their parents died when he was 22. He described his sister's success as "the highlight" of his life "by far" in a 2015 C-SPAN interview. Their close bond was evident throughout Lindsey Graham's political career, with Darline Graham appearing with him on the campaign trail and in campaign videos.
"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," she stated on Monday.