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South Carolina governor appoints Lindsey Graham's sister to complete his Senate term
- Rubin Report Staff
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Darline Graham Nordone will assume the U.S. Senate seat of Lindsey Graham, her late brother, who died unexpectedly on Saturday night, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
McMaster told reporters gathered at the South Carolina Statehouse, "It's my honor to ask his little sister Darline Graham to finish his work for him now," before introducing her as the state's interim U.S. Senator who will complete her brother's fourth term in office, which ends in January.
“It is such an honor,” Nordone said. “Lindsey has always been there for me. And now, I will be there for him. My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man." Earlier on Monday, President Trump recommended McMaster to assign Graham's sister to finish out his term.
According to The New York Times, Graham and his sister have had a close relationship since their parents died nearly 50 years ago. She was 13 at the time, and Graham, in his early 20s, helped raise her. When he ran for the Republican nomination in 2016, he joked that if he won, he might ask Nordone to carry out the duties of first lady, given that he was unmarried.
South Carolina will hold a special election in August to select new candidate for the midterm election being held in November. Graham won the primary race last month, easily defeating five challengers, and was seen as a favorite to clinch a fifth term. This will be Nordone's first time holding political office.
"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," Nordone said. "I think this is what Lindsey would've wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way."
Watch a highlight of her remarks accepting the job as interim senator below.