Darline Graham Nordone, the only surviving family member of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, spoke briefly Monday about her brother’s death and President Trump’s immediate endorsement of her as his interim successor in the Senate.
“Actually, I’m just kind of like devastated right now,” Nordone told The New York Post in a short phone conversation minutes after Trump’s public recommendation.
Graham, 71, died Saturday night after suffering a heart attack at his Capitol Hill residence. Emergency responders arrived around 8:30 p.m. following a report of chest pains.
He went into cardiac arrest, received CPR, and was taken to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Washington, D.C., medical examiner’s office attributed the cause to a ruptured aorta connected to chronic heart disease.
Trump’s Recommendation
Trump urged South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to appoint Nordone to fill the vacancy until a special election. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!” Trump said.
McMaster has scheduled a 4 p.m. press conference Monday to announce his choice for the interim senator. Graham had been running for a fifth term in the 2026 midterms.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., backed the idea. “I have known the late South Carolina senator’s sister for years and she’s a constituent of mine in Lexington County,” Wilson said. “I have faith in Gov. McMaster that he will make the right decision, but I would support the president’s recommendation.”
Also Read: Trump Reveals the Only Time Lindsey Graham Let Him Down
A Lifelong Bond
Nordone and Graham shared a close relationship forged by early loss. Their mother died of cancer in 1976 when Nordone was 13. Their father, Florence James Graham, died of a heart attack at a similar age to his son.
After their parents’ deaths, Graham, then 22 and newly enlisted in the Air Force, became his sister’s legal guardian to support her with military benefits.
“I was just a kid. I remembered that day Lindsey came running in and just grabbed me up and hugged me,” Nordone said in a past video released by the senator’s office. “He’s always been there for me. No matter what.”
Graham frequently spoke of his sister in interviews. During his 2016 presidential run, he joked that she could serve as first lady if needed. In a 2015 C-SPAN interview, he called her success “the highlight of it by far.”
Nordone worked in roles assisting disabled people with employment and raised two children.
Graham’s Career and Final Days
Graham entered Congress in 1994 as part of the Republican Revolution that shifted control of the House. He later moved to the Senate, replacing Strom Thurmond. He served as one of the House impeachment managers during Bill Clinton’s Senate trial.
Also Read: U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Passes Away Following Sudden Illness
Known for his foreign policy focus, Graham pushed for sanctions on Russia, action on Iran, and normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Hours before his death, he reportedly joked about needing more time to address those issues ahead of a scheduled “Meet the Press” appearance.
A memorial formed outside his Senate office with flowers and handwritten notes reading “Thank you for your Service,” “True Patriot,” and “Amazing Brother.”
Graham’s parents had operated a bar and pool hall in Central, S.C., where the siblings spent part of their childhood. After their deaths, Graham often referenced those roots in public remarks, including a 2015 town hall where he recalled bipartisan dealings between Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill.
Next Steps in South Carolina
The appointment process now rests with McMaster. The seat will eventually go to voters in a special election.
Graham’s death marks the end of a 32-year congressional career defined by consistent conservative positions and willingness to cross party lines on select issues. Tributes highlighted his military service and legislative record.
Nordone’s potential appointment would place her in a high-profile role with little prior political experience, drawing attention to the personal and political dimensions of the succession.
