Skip to main content

Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, appointed to fill Senate seat

▶ Watch Video: Lindsey Graham’s sister picked to fill seat as colleagues pay tribute to late senator

Washington — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday appointed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister Darline Graham to finish his Senate term, which ends in January. 

“Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed. It’s my honor to ask his little sister Darline Graham to finish his work for him now,” McMaster said at an emotional news conference to announce to his appointment for the vacant seat left by Graham’s death.

Darline Graham will be able to serve until at least Jan. 3, when a new Congress convenes.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said she would be sworn in Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 ET.

“Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him,” she said, calling it a “privilege to get to finish some of his important work.”

Darline Graham Nordone, with South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, right, and Sen. Tim Scott, left, speaks on July 13, 2026, in South Carolina after being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Darline Graham, with South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, right, and Sen. Tim Scott, left, speaks on July 13, 2026, iafter being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.

AP Photo/Sean Rayford

President Trump, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and others had voiced their support for the choice. 

McMaster said he broached the subject of Darline Graham filling her brother’s seat shortly after his death, and that she quickly accepted.

Lindsey Graham took legal guardianship of his sister when he was 22 and she was 13, after both of their parents died within 15 months of each other.

He was also running for reelection this fall, and a special Republican primary election will be held on Aug. 11 to determine who will replace him on the ballot. The candidate who wins in November will secure a full six-year term. 

Graham died Saturday at the age of 71. A medical examiner’s preliminary findings indicated the cause was aortic dissection, which involves a tear in the main artery from the heart.

Through the years, Darline Graham has been active in supporting her brother’s political ambitions, attending his political and official events. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham hugs his sister Darline Graham Nordone after announcing his bid for presidency, June 1, 2015, in Central, South Carolina.
Sen. Lindsey Graham hugs his sister, Darline Graham, after announcing his bid for presidency on June 1, 2015, in Central, South Carolina.

AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt, File

On Monday morning, Mr. Trump threw his endorsement behind Graham’s younger sister to serve the rest of his term. 

“I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”

Scott told “CBS Mornings” that she “would be a wonderful placeholder.” Scott has spoken to her multiple times over the past 24 hours, a source familiar with the talks told CBS News. Scott was on hand for the announcement later Monday. 

Editor’s note: Darlene Graham’s name has been updated in this story after Graham’s office clarified that she does not go by her husband’s last name, Nordone.

How Canada’s retaliation could hurt American businesses and consumers

By CNN
(CNN) — Canada has a number of arrows in its quiver as it prepares to retaliate against the United States, and they could land hit American consumers and businesses.Already, Ottawa has vowed to match Washington’s latest tariffs dollar for dollar. But Canada also has other tools at its disposal, including restrictions on key exports to the United States.Here’s what Canada could do next — and what each move could mean for Americans.The first move: tariffsCanada’s first move in the brewing trade war is likely to be a straightforward eye-for-an-eye response.Retaliatory tariffs “will be concentrated in sectors such as steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said over the weekend, adding that more details would be shared “in the coming days.”With the exception of steel, all of those industries are also covered by President Donald Trump’s new tariffs. Canada is an important market for US exporters in those sectors: Last year, it ranked as either the largest or second-largest destination for American exports across most of those industries, according to US trade data.Carney also said Canada is considering tariffs aimed at industries Trump has already targeted with separate duties, including cars, steel, aluminum, lumber and copper.The risk for Americans here is that steep Canadian tariffs could weaken demand for these goods, which could force employers to cut workers’ hours or, in some cases, resort to layoffs.The bigger weaponsTrump already signaled he may go beyond the latest tariffs in his trade fight with Canada, threatening on Monday to double tariffs on Canadian cars and auto parts to 50% starting January 1.If Trump follows through — or escalates in other ways — Ottawa could use other ammunition.Canada could restrict key exports to the US, such as energy and a key fertilizer ingredient known as potash, said Diamond Isinger, a policy strategist and former special advisor on Canada-US relations to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.Another vulnerable area is electricity. Ford said in an interview published Monday that Canada should be prepared to cut off electricity exports to the United States if the trade war worsens, putting a potentially powerful weapon on the table. Ontario supplies electricity to several US states, including New York, Michigan and Minnesota.Carney echoed Ford on Monday, telling reporters that “nothing is off the table.”Any such moves could add to the price pressures Americans have faced this year. Altogether the cost of living is up 3.4% from a year ago, according to July Consumer Price Index data. Gas prices, up almost 25% compared to last year, have weighed heavily on consumers’ finances. The cost of powering homes is also up, with electricity and piped gas both costing around 4% more annually.How badly will it hurt?Tariffs could make it harder for US companies to sell their goods in Canada.Restrictions on energy, electricity or critical minerals, something Ford also floated, could instead raise costs for American companies and consumers by making key inputs more expensive or harder to obtain.For instance, last year, Ontario briefly applied a 25% surcharge on electricity imports to the United States. The Ontario government estimated at the time that it would affect 1.5 million American homes, costing up to $400,000 CAD (around $280,000 USD) “every day the surcharge remains in place.”Restrictions on these key Canadian goods could quickly be felt by US businesses and consumers, making it harder to stay afloat, Isinger said.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
Read Next Story

Related Stories

Latest News
Su hija y su nieta fueron arrestadas por ICE en un hospital tras sufrir un accidente: "¿No ven que están golpeadas?"
45 minutes ago

Su hija y su nieta fueron arrestadas por ICE en un hospital tras sufrir un accidente: "¿No ven que están golpeadas?"

Así es como El Niño podría devastar California, una vez más

Cnn L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2ltYWdlL2luc3RhbmNlcy9jbXQ3Zjh6bDIwMDAxM2I2cm9hNGNtZ3Nr L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2FydGljbGUvaW5zdGFuY2VzL2Ntc3l6a3BmMDAwMHkyOG96YTJmajVmOG4=

Rage yoga? Grief cycle? Workouts are starting to match emotional states

Cnn L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2ltYWdlL2luc3RhbmNlcy9jbXQ4a3NmbXkwMDAwM2I2cm5qNWd2bzh1 L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2FydGljbGUvaW5zdGFuY2VzL2NtdDhraWUxMTAwM2QyOG51Ymk0NWY5aWs=

Trump floats renaming Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ as feud with Canada escalates

Así es la peligrosa tendencia de redes sociales que convierte al manejo temerario de vehículos en un juego