Darline Graham Nordone, the younger senator of the late Lindsey Graham, was sworn in as the interim United States Senator representing South Carolina on Tuesday, filling her brother’s seat just days after his sudden death.
The ceremony took place on the floor of the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C. Senate President pro tempore Chuck Grassley administered the oath of office after Nordone was escorted to the dais by South Carolina Senator Tim Scott and Alabama Senator Katie Britt.
A number of senators from both parties were present in the chamber and applauded following the swearing-in. A ceremonial photograph was taken afterward with Grassley, Nordone’s husband Larry Nordone, and other family members at the U.S. Capitol.
Nordone was appointed to the position the previous day, July 13, 2026, by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. She will serve the remainder of her brother’s term, which is set to expire in January.
A special primary election is scheduled for August to select the Republican nominee for the November general election.
“Lindsey has always been there for me. And now I will be there for him,” Nordone said after she was sworn in. “It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and 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.”
BREAKING: Darline Graham Nordone takes the oath of office as South Carolina’s newest senator, filling the seat left vacant by her late brother, Lindsey Graham. pic.twitter.com/3rLb4K5d0y
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 14, 2026
Nordone, whose legal name is Darline Graham Nordone, will be known in the Senate as Darline Graham.
She has no prior experience holding elected office. Her professional background includes extensive work in public service and programs supporting individuals with disabilities.
Since 2019, she has served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. She also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and is president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind.
Earlier roles include positions with Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, and the South Carolina State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling.
Nordone has long maintained a close relationship with her brother. After their mother died in 1976 from Hodgkin’s lymphoma and their father died 15 months later from a heart attack, Lindsey Graham, then 22 and beginning law school, became her legal guardian when she was 13. He later adopted her to ensure she received his military benefits following his service as an Air Force lawyer.
Throughout Lindsey Graham’s political career, Nordone supported him by attending events, appearing in campaign materials such as a 2014 advertisement for his Senate reelection, and participating in public appearances
