Lindsey Graham's sister chosen as replacement after senator's death
The South Carolina governor chose the senator's little sister to serve out the rest of his term after Graham's death on Saturday.
Lindsey Graham's sister appointed as interim successor following senator's passing
Darline Graham Nordone (left) is pictured with her brother at the Iowa state fair in 2015.
Following the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham from an aortic tear on Saturday, his sister will take on the role of his temporary replacement.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced on Monday that Darline Graham Nordone has been selected, referring to her as Graham's "darling little sister" who will "finish his work for him now."
"It is such an honour. Lindsey has always been there for me and now I will be there for him," Nordone expressed.
This decision came after calls from officials, including President Donald Trump, for Nordone to step in as a tribute to the senator, who was unmarried and had no children.
Graham shared a close bond with his sister, whom he legally adopted after they lost their parents at a young age.
McMaster stated that she will complete the remainder of Graham's term, which is scheduled to conclude in 2027.
"Lindsey took care of his little sister," McMaster remarked. "It's my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to finish his work for him now."
Nordone expressed her belief that "this is what Lindsey would have wanted and I plan to honour him in this way."
Graham passed away over the weekend due to an "aortic dissection" linked to cardiovascular disease, as per a preliminary report from the Washington DC medical examiner. He was 71 years old.
At the time of his death, Graham was campaigning for re-election in November and had secured the Republican Party's nomination. Several other Republican candidates have already announced their intentions to run for his Senate seat.
Graham and Nordone experienced the loss of both parents within a span of 15 months. Graham was 22, while Nordone was just 13. She lived with relatives but maintained a strong connection with Graham as he pursued his law degree and served in the Air Force.
"He's kind of like a brother, a father and a mother rolled into one," Nordone, a mother of two who assists individuals with disabilities in finding employment, told the New York Times in 2015.
Graham later adopted her, explaining to reporters that it was to ensure she would receive his military benefits in case anything happened to him.
Throughout his political journey, she has been by his side, and Graham had previously suggested that she would serve as his first lady if he were to be elected president.
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