Anna Hartz
Trump backs Lindsey Graham’s sister for vacant senate seat
Political appointments often become especially sensitive after the sudden death of a well-known public figure. In the United States, it is not unusual for family members to temporarily fill vacant political offices. That is now happening in South Carolina after the death of Senator Lindsey Graham.
No previous political experience
Darline Graham Nordone has been appointed to complete the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham’s term as a U.S. senator. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced the decision on July 13, reports Ziare. He said Nordone was the right person to continue her brother’s work until the current term ends.
Lindsey Graham died on July 11 at the age of 71 from an aortic dissection. During the announcement, Nordone said it was a great honor to serve. She said her brother had always been there for her, and now she would be there for him.
The appointment has been described as a tribute to Graham’s long political career. Reports said President Donald Trump was among those who supported the idea of giving the position to the senator’s sister. Graham was never married and had no children.
Governor McMaster confirmed that Nordone will remain in office until January 2027. It is still unknown whether she plans to run for a full six-year Senate term in the next election.
Nordone has no previous political experience. She has spent much of her career helping people with disabilities find work and become part of the labor market.
Tumultuous childhood
The bond between the two siblings was shaped by difficult family circumstances. Their parents died only 15 months apart when Lindsey Graham was 22 and Darline was 13. Graham later legally adopted his younger sister so she could receive military benefits while he served in the U.S. Air Force.
In a 2015 interview with The New York Times, Nordone described her brother as a brother, father, and mother all at once. She was also a regular presence during his election campaigns.
Graham first entered the Senate in 2002 and became one of the Republican Party’s best-known voices on foreign policy. Shortly before his death, he visited Kyiv and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
His death comes during an important political period. Republicans currently hold a majority in the Senate, and several Republican candidates have already expressed interest in running for the seat in the next election. Officials said the final death certificate will be issued after all medical tests are completed.
