Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to Senate as GOP rushes to protect fragile majority

FIRST ON FOX: Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was appointed to fill her brother’s Senate seat after a push from President Donald Trump.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a close Trump ally, appointed Nordone Monday afternoon, nearly 48 hours after her brother and longtime lawmaker suddenly died from an aortic dissection.

McMaster’s pick comes after Trump pushed for Graham’s "wonderful sister" Nordone to get the job.

"This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly," Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social on Monday morning.

Others were in the mix initially, including Lt. Gov. Pam Evette, who Trump endorsed in her failed bid to clinch the GOP nomination for governor, former Rep. Trey Gowdy and former Sen. Jim DeMint, sources told Fox News Digital.

Her appointment fills the seat through Jan. 3, while voters decide in November who will hold the seat for the next six-year term. 

At this point, it's unclear if Nordone would consider running for a full six-year term, and there's already private jockeying to run in the special election, set for Aug. 11, to secure the GOP nomination in the Palmetto State, with Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., both eyeing a bid. 

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Graham’s death narrowed Republicans’ Senate majority and added pressure to keep every GOP vote available, especially with Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., still being treated after a fall and pneumonia.

Nordone, who has largely kept out of the public eye, is married to Larry Nordone and has two daughters. She has worked with the South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) as commissioner, according to the organization's 2026-27 budget. The SCCB provides serves aimed at helping blind and low-vision South Carolina residents gain employment, independence and self-sufficiency.

Nordone has not previously held elected office.

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Following Trump’s endorsement, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), also put his support behind Nordone on Monday morning ahead of the announcement. 

"Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, would be a fantastic pick to serve out the remainder of the Senate term," Scott wrote in a post to X.

"After speaking with Darline, there is no one better who understands Lindsey’s love for family, our state and our country."

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is also on board with the plan. 

He told CNN Monday afternoon that he had already spoken with both Nordone and McMaster the day before, and believed that tapping the longtime lawmaker's sister to fill his spot, "in my view, makes a lot of sense."

"I think, in many respects, it would be a way of extending Lindsey’s legacy here, and certainly something that, if that’s what they decide to end up doing, I think there’d be a lot of support for," Thune said. 

The filing period for a special primary election begins on July 21, with the special election to follow on Aug. 11. A runoff, if needed, would be held Aug. 25, leaving the candidate just two months to campaign before the Nov. 3 general election.