Following the unexpected death of longtime Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina at age 71 over the weekend, his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, was sworn in as his interim replacement Tuesday.
Who is Graham Nordone? Let’s find out.
According to Britannica, Graham and Graham Nordone’s parents owned a pool hall, bar and liquor store in South Carolina. Their mother died in 1976 and their father died just 15 months later, while Graham Nordone was just a young teen. Graham, nine years her senior, was a student at the University of South Carolina at the time and he eventually became Graham Nordone’s legal guardian and raised her from that point on, as he first pursued a career in the air force and as a military lawyer before going into politics.
People magazine reported that Graham Nordone initially moved in with an aunt and uncle while her brother was at college, but he frequently returned home.
“Lindsey was always my parent. There was no doubt in my mind or anyone else’s mind that Lindsey was my guardian,” she told the The New York Times in 2015. “He’s kind of like a brother, a father and a mother rolled into one.”
Graham Nordone earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, per a press release from South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s office about her appointment to Graham’s seat. She’s also a Certified Public Manager.
In her career, Graham Nordone has held roles with Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, and the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Since 2019, she has served in a full-time role as a commissioner for the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
“According to the state’s public salary database, she earns $138,000 a year as the agency’s leader,” the Post & Courier reported. It also noted that her move to the U.S. Senate will come with a pay increase – rank-and-file senators receive an annual salary of $174,000.
Graham Nordone also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and is president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, said the press release from McMaster’s office. She is married to Larry Nordone, who she shares children with, and they live in Lexington, S.C.
Kevin Bishop, Graham’s longtime former communications director, said “she’s smart, she’s funny, she’s witty,” of Graham Nordone, according to the Post & Courier. He also said: “She can handle herself. She’s no shrinking violet. She is incredibly nice and pleasant, but if she gets pushed, she can push back.”
“The appointment of Darline Graham Nordone to the U.S. Senate is an incredible way to honor the legacy of Lindsey Graham,” said Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). “Nobody understands Lindsey Graham’s heart for faith, family, and South Carolina the way she does. I look forward to working alongside her to continue Senator Graham’s commitment to keeping Americans safe and secure.”
As a senator, her brother had a reputation as a “conservative problem solver,” according to his Senate biography. He has also been described as a “war hawk” and was part of a group with similar views called the “Three Amigos” along with the late Sen. John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, and the late Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent Democrat from Connecticut.
Graham represented South Carolina's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-2003 and then went on to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate from 2003 up until his death from an “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” per POLITCO. He also served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
“Lindsey worked harder than anyone to make our state, country, and world better. He loved his family and loved serving this state and the country. He dedicated his life to our country,” said Graham Nordone of her brother. “It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard every day 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.”
She will serve in the position through Jan. 3 of next year, the end of Graham’s term. He was the nominee for the 2026 U.S. Senate election, so a special primary election will be held to nominate a replacement for Graham as the candidate.
“Filing for the special primary election will be open from July 21 through July 28, 2026. The special primary will be held August 11, with a runoff, if necessary, on August 25. The general election will proceed as scheduled on November 3, 2026,” said the press release from McMaster’s office.
Dave Leventhal of the outlet NOTUS joined Audacy station WBEN News and Talk in Buffalo this week to discuss what Graham’s passing means for the upcoming midterm elections in November.
“There’s likely going to be a rush of candidates who are going to be participating in that special primary, which is going to be on an incredibly fast track because the primary will take place on August 11,” he said. “There’s the possibility of a runoff if nobody gets 50% of that vote right out of the gate.”
He said that whoever the candidate is will likely win the election in November, since South Carolina is generally a strongly Republican state. Still, Leventhal expects the loss of Graham’s unique view will have an impact on state politics.
“Lindsey Graham is somebody who stands apart from many of his Senate colleagues because of a couple of reasons,” Leventhal said. “Number one, he was a very powerful Senator. He had led multiple Senate committees. He was a major presence on budgetary issues, a major presence on military issues, and also judicial issues too when he was leading the Judiciary Committee. So, he’s somebody who, in that respect... is, if not singular, pretty darn close to it.”
