Lindsey Graham's sister reveals heartbreaking moment she learned of senator's death and what she plans to do differently in his place

By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER Published: 06:28, 21 July 2026 | Updated: 06:29, 21 July 2026 Lindsey Graham's sister Darline felt like she was 'living a nightmare' when she learned of his death, she revealed Monday while stating her intention to run for his Senate seat.  Darline, 62, was appointed to her brother's seat following his shock death but confirmed that she's running for a full term in November, with Donald Trump's blessing. In an interview with Fox News Monday, Graham told Sean Hannity about the heartbreaking hours after her brother's passing due to a tear in his aorta.   'It was just unbelievable. It was like I was living a nightmare when I got the unexpected news,' she said. 'I can't even tell you how devastated I was when I got the call.' However, despite never having held political office, she found herself caught up in a whirlwind of Republican leaders - including Trump - encouraging her to replace Lindsey.  'Things just started moving so fast. I got the call from the president, and the governor, [Senator] Tim Scott, just thoughtful messages, how much they respected him, true friendship. And then the question, would I serve?' Darline said she was 'shocked' and described politics as 'Lindsey's life, not mine, nothing I ever wanted to be.' However, she added: 'When they asked, it did not take me long, I prayed, I talked to my family. I knew that I had to step up. I had to carry on his legacy.'  Lindsey Graham's sister Darline (pictured) thought she was 'living a nightmare' as she received the news of her brother's death as she announced her intention to replace him full-time in the Senate Darline, 62, was appointed to her brother's seat following his shock death but confirmed Monday that she's running for a full term in November, with Donald Trump's blessing Darline discussed how frequently her brother traveled across the world - especially to the Middle East and Ukraine - and how it made her 'concerned about him.'  She said she would tell him: 'It's a lot, I want you to slow down and take care of yourself.'  'I knew that he was doing what he loved, what he is passionate about, he loved serving the people of the state and serving our country. I just had an inner peace, if anything ever happened to him, that it would be doing what he loved.' Darline added that she would 'go back and beg and plead to do better' if she could but nothing could have stopped him. She noted that Lindsey's entire staff was going to stick with her as she attempted to replace him. Darline said that while she has told President Trump that sanctions against Russia and other foreign policy goals important to her brother are something she's pushing, she wants to focus more on domestic policy than Lindsey.  Notably, Trump posted to Truth Social demanding sanctions get done as it's 'what Lindsey would have wanted' Sunday.  'I would watch him and I would be like, Lindsey is talking about national security all the time and I understand that is important, protecting our borders, national security, absolutely, but I started to talk about also what matters to the average person,' she said. Trump has called Graham a member of his family in the wake of the Senator's death and has encouraged Darline to run for his seat Darline Graham was sworn in to the United States Senate last Tuesday Darline defined those things as 'the price of groceries, the price of gas, health care, insurance, those kinds of things. That's what I'm worried about. So I think that's important too.'  She told Hannity she had been 'praying a lot' about how to navigate her new role. 'It is a tremendous amount of pressure,' she said. 'I know I´m a hard worker. I learned that from Lindsey,' Darline Graham said. 'I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes.' When asked about the strange trip she's taken toward national politics, she believes it may be fate.   'I just know that I have to trust that God has a plan. I never wanted this, this was my brother's life, he worked so hard for the people of South Carolina and our country.'  'And I was so proud of him, that if god has put me in the position, I will do it. I will take on the challenge. Lindsey was always there for me and now I feel like I have to step up and be there for him,' she added. Darline Graham ultimately confirmed Monday she's running for a full term to replace her late brother's Senate seat. Nordone with family members after being sworn in to fill her brother's vacant Senate seat last week Darline said that while she has told President Trump that sanctions against Russia and other foreign policy goals important to her brother are something she's pushing, she wants to focus more on domestic policy than Lindsey. Notably, Trump posted to Truth Social demanding sanctions get done as it's 'what Lindsey would have wanted' Sunday 'I've made a decision. I'm in,' she told Hannity. Several other noteworthy politicians, including Rep. Ralph Norman, have already gotten in, and others like Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette have been eyeing a run, as well as top Trump ally Russell Fry.  Rep. Nancy Mace announced Monday she would not enter the contest.  A weeklong filing period opens Tuesday for the special Republican primary, which will be August 11.  On Friday, President Donald Trump said that Darline Graham had his 'Complete and Total Endorsement' to seek the nomination, adding, 'RUN, DARLINE, RUN!' Last week, Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline to serve the remainder of her brother´s term, which ends in January.  In his announcement, McMaster made no reference to Darline Graham as a placeholder or symbolic appointment.  A person familiar with McMaster´s thinking but unauthorized to speak publicly said the governor, in selecting Darline Graham, had never contemplated that she would run for the seat herself. Senate Majority Leader John Thune opted out of endorsing Darline in the special primary. Several other noteworthy politicians, including Rep. Ralph Norman, have already gotten in, and others like Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette have been eyeing a run, as well as top Trump ally Russell Fry (pictured) Senate Majority Leader John Thune opted out of endorsing Darline in the special primary Thune described her as a 'strong candidate,' adding that 'she obviously carries on Lindsey's legacy.' But that was as far as he went, declining to back Nordone or anyone else for the time being.  'Sounds like the field is taking shape,' he told reporters on Monday. 'And I’ll let the voters in South Carolina decide it.'  Businessmen Patrick Hermann and Mark Lynch are also running, along with attorney Duke Buckner. The winner of the primary will advance to face Annie Andrews, the pediatrician nominated by the Democratic party earlier this year. South Carolina, a solidly red state, has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since Ernest Hollings left office in 2005.