Darline Graham Nordone, the younger sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was sworn into the Senate on Tuesday to serve out the remainder of her brother’s term after his sudden death over the weekend.
Mrs. Nordone was appointed to the seat by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster following President Trump’s suggestion and will serve in the Republican majority for the remaining five months of Mr. Graham’s fourth Senate term.
Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican, joined Ms. Nordone during her swearing-in on the Senate floor, which was conducted by the Senate’s President pro tempore, Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican.
After being sworn in, Mrs. Nordone walked to her brother’s desk and stood behind it as numerous senators from both parties lined up to shake her hand or give her a hug.
The 62-year-old married mother of two, who also is a grandmother, has never held public office and has largely lived outside the public eye.
She spent her career helping people with disabilities and currently serves as the commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
It is unknown whether Mrs. Nordone will remain a temporary placeholder or run in a special Republican primary scheduled for August to replace Mr. Graham on the ticket.
Republican hopefuls were already lining up Sunday, including Rep. Russell Fry, who media reports say is backed by Mr. Trump. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman also have signaled interest, as has former Gov. Mark Sanford, who also served in the U.S. House.
South Carolina is expected to hold the special primary on Aug. 11 and, if necessary, a runoff on Aug. 25. Under a timeline set by state law, candidate filing will open July 21 and end on July 28.
The winner of the GOP primary will face off against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews and likely will be favored in the deep-red state.
Because Mr. Graham died outside a 100-day special election window, the winner in November will serve a full, six-year term.
Mrs. Nordone, about nine years younger than Mr. Graham, was raised by her brother after both parents died. Mr. Graham, who never married, became her legal guardian when she was 13. She is his only survivor.
Mr. Graham, 71, died after emergency workers were dispatched to his Capitol Hill home. The D.C. Medical Examiner’s Office issued a preliminary finding of “aortic dissection due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”
U.S. governors throughout history have tapped family members to step into the Senate seats of loved ones who could no longer serve.
Lincoln Chafee, a Republican, was appointed to occupy his father’s Rhode Island Senate seat in 1999 following his father’s death.
Jean Carnahan, a Democrat, was appointed to the Senate in 2001 by Missouri Gov. Roger Wilson to serve in the seat won posthumously by her husband, Mel Carnahan, who died in a plane crash.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Republican, was appointed by her own father to take over his Senate seat after he became Alaska’s governor in 2002 — a controversial decision at the time.
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