Graham’s sister to be sworn in to the Senate on Tuesday
Darline Graham Nordone, sister of the late senator Lindsey Graham, is set to be sworn into his Senate seat in South Carolina on Tuesday afternoon. The appointment follows Graham’s sudden death on Saturday, shortly after he returned from a trip to Ukraine.Governor henry McMaster appointed her to serve for the remainder of Graham’s term, and she will participate in the Senate Republican lunch before taking her oath. Nordone, who has little political background but was close to her brother, expressed her commitment to continue graham’s legacy and work on behalf of South Carolina and the U.S. Despite her limited political history, her swift appointment highlights the GOP’s focus on maintaining their senate majority. Graham’s death has also impacted Senate committees, notably narrowing the Republicans’ majority on the Judiciary Committee. An upcoming special primary election will determine Graham’s replacement as the Republican candidate for a full term in August.
EXCLUSIVE — Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, will be sworn in to his Senate seat on Tuesday afternoon, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The swearing-in ceremony, slated for 2:30 p.m., will occur nearly a day after Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC) named Nordone to serve in Graham’s place for the remainder of the year. Graham, who was up for reelection this year, died suddenly on Saturday.
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Nordone will attend the Senate Republican lunch before taking her oath, the Washington Examiner first reported.
Nordone appeared at the Monday afternoon event where McMaster announced her appointment, holding back tears as she delivered brief remarks promising to be a good steward of Graham’s legacy.
“It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and United States,” Nordone said.
Nordone has little political history but was close with her brother, who became her legal guardian after their parents died.
Graham’s death, at the age of 71, came after he returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he announced that the White House had signed off on a Russia sanctions bill that had been stalled for months.
A bipartisan group of senators has called for passage of that bill as a “tribute” to Graham and his work on foreign policy.
It is not yet clear who will take over Graham’s committee assignments, but the speed of Nordone’s swearing-in underscores the desire of Senate Republicans to return to their 53-seat majority quickly. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been absent since June after suffering a fall.
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In the interim, Graham’s death has narrowed Republicans’ majority on the Judiciary Committee, which will consider Todd Blanche’s controversial nomination for attorney general on Wednesday.
Nordone’s appointment is separate from a special primary election that will be held to replace Graham as the Republican nominee for a full, six-year term. That election has been scheduled for Aug. 11.
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