Late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Replacement Named As A ‘Fabulous Tribute’ To Honor Him
Lindsey Graham‘s seat in the Senate will not be left empty, as recently announced by Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina.
The Republican politician’s sudden death was announced over the weekend in a shocking statement by his family, after a “brief illness.”
With Graham gone, Governor McMaster has chosen a replacement he believes the late senator would be happy about filling his shoes.
Lindsey Graham’s Family Member Will Take Over Senate Seat
In a shocking move, on Monday afternoon, Graham’s sister and only family member, Darline Graham Nordone, was given the appointment to serve out the rest of the late Republican’s term.
Gov. McMaster made the announcement, praising Nordone as the one who would “finish his work for him now.” The heartbroken sister boldly took on the role, declaring, “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him.”
She described the temporary role, set to last until 2027, as a “privilege” and vowed to put her best efforts into completing her brother’s work on behalf of his constituents and the country.
Concluding her statement, Nordone paid a heartfelt tribute to her late sibling, saying, “To Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words. But I’m going to do this. I got it.”
Trump Played A Role In Graham’s Sister’s Nomination
In the days following Graham’s passing, McMaster and several Republican powerhouses, including President Donald Trump, endorsed Nordone to take over.
According to CNN, the governor has the power to appoint a temporary replacement, and he made the request of Nordone as early as Sunday morning.
He described it as a decision he believes the late senator would have wanted, adding that Trump “thought it was a great idea.”
The president confirmed the move on Monday, describing Nordone’s takeover as “a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly.” Senator John Thune also endorsed the decision.
Despite Nordone stepping in, Graham’s seat was originally up for re-election this year. However, due to his passing, there would be a primary election for his position in August in preparation for the November ballot.
Inside Lindsey Graham’s Relationship With His Sister
Although Nordone has never held a political office until now, she has quite the experience in public service working with people with disabilities. She was super close with her late brother.
In 2016, when the late Graham announced his intentions to run for president, he was asked who would be his first lady. The senator, who was notably single until his death and had no child, answered, “Well, I’ve got a sister. She could play that role if necessary.”
With a bond that formed in their parent’s liquor store, Graham and Nordone became even closer when both their mom and dad passed away in the space of 15 months. The late senator would later officially adopt his younger sister and become her legal guardian, BBC reports.
Before her political appointment, Nordone was the commissioner for the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
Likely Cause Of Graham’s Death Revealed
Graham’s passing on July 11, 2026, took the world by storm, as he was set to appear on NBC’s “Meet The Press” the following day.
He had just returned from an official trip to Ukraine, with his family confirming in a statement that the politician died of a “brief and sudden illness.”
According to The Blast, preliminary findings conducted by a medical examiner reveal that Graham likely suffered an aortic tear that led to his death.
“The preliminary examination findings were: Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease,” an excerpt of the medical report read.
An official cause is, however, yet to be determined as toxicology and microscopic laboratory testing haven’t been completed. Nevertheless, no foul play is being suspected.
Lindsey Graham Ignored His Health In Final Hours
More details have continued to come to light about Graham’s final moments, with the politician reportedly actively at work before things took a tragic turn.
As The Blast reported, the senator spent some time on the phone with President Trump on Saturday evening discussing his Ukraine visit and foreign policy.
After the call, someone reportedly questioned his well-being, saying he didn’t look too good, but Graham was said to have dismissed the concern, postponing a hospital visit until after his NBC filming.
“I can’t die now. I still need to do the Russian sanctions, get Iran sorted out and do Israeli-Saudi normalization,” he reportedly said.
Little did he know it would be too late.
Originally published on theblast.com