South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) has appointed Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), to fill the remainder of her brother’s term in the Senate on Monday following the GOP senator’s sudden death over the weekend.
Nordone is expected to only serve the rest of Graham’s current term through January. A separate special GOP primary will take place in August for the full six-year term.
President Trump threw his support behind Nordone earlier Monday, stating her appointment would be a “fabulous tribute” to her brother.
Nordone, Graham’s only sibling, had a close relationship with her brother, including introducing Graham during his presidential kickoff announcement in 2015.
In past speeches and interviews, the two — who grew up in a room behind their parents’ pool hall, bar and restaurant called the Sanitary Cafe — have each spoken about how Graham took care of his sister when their mother died of Hodgkin lymphoma; Graham was in his early 20s at that point while Nordone was 11 years old.
Fifteen months later they would be orphans after their father died.
“I can remember the day my father passed away, standing in the living room of that house, absolutely scared to death,” Nordone said in June 2015, opening for Graham’s presidential announcement event. “And Lindsey wrapped his arms around me and promised me that he would always be there for me and always take care of me, and I can assure you, he’s done that.”
“He always made me feel so loved and so secure. Lindsey also made sure I finished high school, went to college,” she added. “He even legally adopted me.”
More recently, Nordone was even featured in one of Graham’s campaign ads as the late senator sought reelection.
“Of all the things that have happened in my life, her turning out so well is the highlight of it,” Graham said in a 2015 interview with C-SPAN.
Asked what kind of role he could envision Nordone playing in the White House noting that Graham would be a bachelor if elected president, the GOP senator said: “She would be a support network for me.”
“I hadn’t really thought much about it, but at the end of the day, whatever I ask her to do, she would do,” he said. “And if she took a role on, she would be a great representative of our country.”
Graham even joked in an interview with Daily Mail Online in 2015 that she could serve as his First Lady if needed.
Nordone has two daughters and has worked with helping people with disabilities find jobs, according to The New York Times.
Who is Darline Graham Nordone?
The younger sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Darline Graham Nordone, has been catapulted into the spotlight as a potential replacement for her older brother and former guardian.
Although the deceased lawmaker was her senior by just seven years, he took over caring for 13-year-old Nordone in 1977 after both of their parents’ untimely deaths.
Now at the age of 64 years old, she could be tasked with taking on his legacy in the legislature as a temporary replacement for the foreign policy icon, defense hawk and passionate debater.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R-S.C.) will announce the person selected to serve as a temporary replacement at 4:00 p.m. on Monday.
After receiving President Trump’s endorsement, Nordone may be tapped to join the 100 Senators in Washington to fulfill her brother’s tenure until Jan. 3, 2027.
Nordone has never served as an elected official but is a mother of two, who spent time aiding individuals with disabilities find work in the Palmetto State, according to The New York Times.
She told the New York Post she was “devastated” by the death of her brother when asked about stepping up to replace him.
Graham never married but joked about Nordone serving as first lady if he was elected to serve as president during his bid for the 2016 Republican nomination.
“I’ve got a sister, she could play that role if necessary,” he told the Daily Mail in a previous interview.
The two came from humble beginnings in Central, S.C. where their parents ran a bar and pool hall named the Sanitary Cafe.
“The patrons were basically an extended family for us, they were basically like our aunts and uncles,” Nordone said while speaking with CNN anchor Dana Bash in 2015.
The commercial space also served as a grounding place for the family of four, which lived in an offside room, according to CNN.
The Sanitary Cafe shut down after their parents died. Their mother Millie Graham died of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1976, followed by the death of their father Florence James “F.J.” Graham 15 months later.
Florence died of a heart attack. Nordone was the first to find him.
“I can remember the day my father passed away, standing in the living room of that house, absolutely scared to death,” Nordone told NPR in 2015.
“Lindsey wrapped his arms around me and promised me he would always be there for me and always take care of me,” she added.
Graham eventually adopted Nordone so she could receive his military benefits while serving in the Air Force.
The late lawmaker died on Saturday evening due to cardiac arrest at 71 years old.
Trump endorsed Nordone as his ready successor due to their close relationship and long-lasting support for one another.
“This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!” the president said in a Truth Social post on Monday.
Kevin Bishop, Graham’s communications director, echoed those sentiments.
“I know Lindsey would be beaming with pride and appreciation if his sister was the one to fill the final few months of his term. He loved her dearly. Darline is accomplished in her own right. She has years of experience in state government leadership,” Bishop said in a statement sent to NewsNation.
“She’s also a certified optician with a long record supporting government programs for the blind and workforce development. I’ve known Darline for years. She’s a wonderful leader, mother, and grandmother. She’s a first-class person who would represent South Carolina with dignity and honor. I could not think of a better or more fitting choice,” he added.