The sister of US Senator Lindsey Graham will serve as his temporary replacement after the South Carolina lawmaker died from an aortic tear on Saturday.
Darline Graham Nordone was formally chosen by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Monday, who introduced her as Graham’s “little sister” who would “finish his work for him now”.
“It is such an honour. Lindsey has always been there for me and now I will be there for him,” Nordone said.
The announcement came after officials including President Donald Trump calling for Nordone to serve as his replacement in a “tribute” to the senator, who never married and had no children.
Graham was close with his sister, who he legally adopted after their parents died while they were young.
McMaster said she would serve out the remainder of Graham’s term, which is set to end in 2027.
“Lindsey took care of his little sister,” McMaster said. “It’s my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to finish his work for him now.”
Nordone said she believed “this is what Lindsey would have wanted and I plan to honour him in this way”.
Does the US not have special elections?
You guys are just full on monarchy now?
South Carolina is fundamentally a very corrupt state from the highest to the lowest levels. Just look at the Murdaugh family. How the fuck does a family have that much power and influence over a community in the 21st century? So the governor just appointing the next senator doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. They don’t raise the brightest in South Carolina, that’s for sure.
Depends on the state. South Carolina law just has the governor appoint a replacement for the rest of the term.
this time both happen to be from the party, but this rule may get interesting if implemented in purple states
A quick search showed 46 states allow a temp placement by the government, 4 states don’t. Kentucky, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
Kentucky being the state that people were just wondering of McConnell had died.
the rule was very recently changed in Kentucky by GOP legislature given that KY currently has a democratic governor and McConnell is 137 years old.
April 2024 is what I saw when I did a quick search, didn’t know that.
McConnell starting having his health issues around 1 year before… Fast results for Kentucky
Recall that Rod Blagojevich got in serious trouble because he basically offered to sell Obama’s senate seat.
Nah I had to look him up, I wasnt from Illinois. But it appears he was a Democrat trying to sell a the Senate seat, Illinois impeached him, the feds then convicted him to 14 years prison, where he sat until 2020 and Trump cummuted his sentence do to him supporting Trump’s campaign. Thn when Trump got into office in 2025, pardoned the previous convictions once again for supporting him.
Apparently Blagojevich described himself as a Trumpocrat.
Possibly worth noting Blagojevich appeared on Celebrity Apprentice with Trump.
So he attempted to sell a Senate seat to anyone for money or employment, and he became employed with the next president who committed and pardoned his convictions of trying to sell the Senate seat.
Sheesh
They do, but they still appoint a replacement until then.
There should be a special election but the time served will be pretty short.
I believe it is temporary until special election is held and determines full-time replacement.
Graham was up for reelection this year and she’s going to serve the rest of his term, so I think in this case it’s until the regular election.