Darline Graham walked into the U.S. Senate on Tuesday afternoon and made history. Sworn in by Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, she became the first sibling ever appointed to fill a deceased senator's seat, stepping into her older brother Lindsey Graham's shoes just three days after his unexpected death.
The South Carolina Republican will serve out her brother's term, which runs through early January. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her Monday, setting the stage for her swift swearing-in and a standing ovation from the chamber. Though her legal married name is Darline Graham Nordone, she will use Darline Graham as her Senate name, according to her spokesperson.
Darline Graham enters the chamber with no political experience and no previous public profile. She has spent her life largely out of the spotlight, occasionally appearing in campaign videos or joining her brother at campaign events. Yet Republican leaders have signaled confidence in her as a reliable conservative vote. Rep. Ralph Norman, speaking moments before the ceremony, said she would follow her brother's example. "She loves the country, and she would do what Lindsey would do," Norman said.
President Trump endorsed the appointment Monday, calling it "a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly." Sen. Tim Scott, also of South Carolina, praised her as a "fantastic pick."
Their bond runs deep. Lindsey Graham became his sister's legal guardian when she was 13 years old, after their mother died of cancer and their father died of a heart attack. Lindsey, then a college student in his early 20s, took on the responsibility. He later legally adopted her after joining the Air Force, enabling her to access military benefits.
In a 2015 CNN interview, Darline reflected on the adoption. "At first, the idea was a little odd, but I was like, no it makes perfect sense," she said. "I just trusted his judgment. I knew he was doing what he could to take care of me." Lindsey once told C-SPAN that her success in life was his greatest pride. "Of all the things that have happened in my life, her turning out so well is the highlight of it by far," he said.
Both grew up in Central, South Carolina, a small town where their childhood struggles forged an unbreakable connection. Darline has two daughters, ages 32 and 17.
Her tenure will be brief unless she chooses to seek the seat permanently. South Carolina Republicans plan to hold a special primary to nominate a candidate for a full six-year term. Potential candidates include Rep. Nancy Mace, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evett, and Rep. Ralph Norman, all of whom ran unsuccessfully for governor this year. The eventual Republican nominee will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the general election. It remains unclear whether Darline Graham intends to run for a full term herself.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "She steps into one of the most powerful positions in American politics with no preparation or ambition for it, bound only by love and duty to finish what her brother started."
Comments