Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy left by the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The appointment ensures South Carolina maintains its full representation in the Senate during a critical legislative period. By naming a family member to the interim role, the governor has opted for a transition that avoids an immediate partisan battle over the vacancy.
Sen. Graham died on July 11, 2026 [1]. The vacancy created by his death required a swift appointment to ensure the state's interests remained represented in Washington. Gov. McMaster said he selected Graham Nordone on Monday afternoon, July 13, 2026 [1].
Graham Nordone will serve as the interim senator until the end of the current term in 2026 [3]. The appointment allows her to hold the seat for the remainder of the year, a short-term solution to stabilize the office following the senator's death.
Reports on the appointee's name vary slightly across news outlets, with some citing her as Darline Graham [1] and others as Darlene Graham [2]. Regardless of the spelling, the appointment marks a rare instance of a sibling filling a seat previously held by a brother in the U.S. Senate.
Because the appointment is interim, the seat will eventually be subject to the standard electoral process. The move by Gov. McMaster prevents a prolonged vacancy that could have left South Carolina with only one voting member in the upper chamber during the final months of the year.
“Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy”
The appointment of a family member to an interim Senate seat is a strategic move that minimizes political friction during a period of mourning. By appointing Graham Nordone for a short duration until the end of 2026, Gov. McMaster avoids granting a long-term political advantage to any specific candidate before a formal election can occur.
