Darline Graham Nordone, the younger sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), has emerged as the leading contender to succeed him in the Senate. At 64, she would step into a role that her brother held for over two decades, tasked with carrying forward his legacy as a foreign policy hawk and defense advocate.
Graham, who died Saturday at 71 from cardiac arrest, became Nordone's guardian in 1977 after their parents died within 15 months of each other. He was just 21 at the time, and she was 13. He later legally adopted her so she could receive his military benefits while he served in the Air Force. Their bond was forged in tragedy and sustained through a lifetime of mutual support.
President Donald Trump endorsed Nordone on Monday, calling her appointment a "fabulous tribute" to her brother. The endorsement is widely seen as decisive. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) will announce his choice at 4 p.m. Monday, and all signs point to Nordone.
Nordone has never held elected office. She worked helping people with disabilities find jobs in South Carolina and is a mother of two. In interviews, she has described the devastating loss of her brother. "I was devastated," she told the New York Post when asked about replacing him.
The Graham siblings grew up in Central, S.C., where their parents ran a bar and pool hall called the Sanitary Cafe. The family lived in a room off the commercial space. "The patrons were basically an extended family for us, they were basically like our aunts and uncles," Nordone told CNN in 2015. After their mother died of Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1976 and their father of a heart attack 15 months later, Nordone found her father's body. "I can remember the day my father passed away, standing in the living room of that house, absolutely scared to death," she told NPR. "Lindsey wrapped his arms around me and promised me he would always be there for me and always take care of me."
Graham never married and often joked that if he were elected president, Nordone would serve as first lady. During his 2016 Republican primary bid, he told the Daily Mail, "I've got a sister, she could play that role if necessary."
If appointed, Nordone would serve until Jan. 3, 2027, completing the remainder of Graham's term. The appointment is temporary; a special election will determine who holds the seat long-term. Several candidates are already maneuvering for that race, including state Rep. Luke Norman, who is seeking Trump's backing.
Graham's sudden death has shaken the Senate and triggered a succession battle. His final legislative push, a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, is nearing the finish line as colleagues seek to pass it as a memorial. Nordone's appointment would ensure that Graham's influence—and his close alignment with Trump—remains in the chamber for the immediate future.
