President Trump has recommended to South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster that Senator Lindsey Graham’s interim replacement for the remainder of this term should be his younger sister Darline Graham Nordone.
[SOURCE]
Darline is 9-years younger than Lindsey and has worked in public relations and vocational rehabilitation. She served as public information director for the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, where her work involved communicating information about the agency and its services for people with disabilities.
Darline Graham-Nordone lives in Lexington, South Carolina, and is married to Larry Nordone. Together Darline and Larry have two daughters who are Senator Graham’s nieces.
There will be a primary election quickly in South Carolina to determine the replacement Republican candidate. However, in the interim Governor McMaster will appoint a senator to fill the remainder of Lindsey Graham’s term. I think Darline Graham-Nordone would be a solid interim person to finish the year in honor of her brother.
As a temporary replacement until a full primary/election can be held, this seems like a good choice! She knows her brother’s politics and would be a supporter of President Trump’s agenda through January – probably no game playing or political maneuvering because she would simply be a placeholder…
If she “knows her brother’s politics,” then most certainly she knows how the game is played and what maneuvering will be required, especially if the latter involves Ukraine. No doubt Zelenskyy is thrilled by the President’s recommendation.
Ukraine is not the priority at this point, election security is.
She worked on several of Graham’s campaigns.
It makes alot of sense, and gives SC time to sort things out, given the very quick timetable.
ugh.
I thought there would be an flash election in August to fill the open seat until January and in the mean time there would be the normal election in November. Maybe I am confused with KY.
Why did the FBI swarm his house? My guess is they were there to gather intelligence and not there to solve any potential crime. No need for the 4th Amendment when the person has passed away I guess.
Yes there will be a new Republican primary on August 11th, as has been widely reported, including on this website. The winner of that will face off against the Democrat in November general election, and the winner there will assume a 6 year term starting in January, 2027.
Until then, the vacant seat is filled by a person appointed by the Governor.
Police normally do investigate an unattended, at home death, even if no foul play is suspected. That the FBI would be involved, given that Graham was a Senator, seems rather routine.
I think Graham was also cleared to view classified documents. So, SOP for FBI to investigate after a sudden death.
That was my thought too. He was too senior and prominent in the federal government and his death was too sudden for the FBI not to become involved, even if it would otherwise be a routine matter and no reason to suspect foul play.
That was my first thought, to gather whatever kind of evidence they could get their filthy hands on.
Kentucky law is the special primary happens and then they are on the ballot to finish out the term. If Mitch is out of the Senate, Kentucky voters would have to vote on the Senator for the full 6 year term (Barr is already the nominee), and then for the remaining 2 months of the term (would also likely be Barr). Both votes would occur in the Nov midterm election.
SC law is an appointment by the governor, and to fill Graham’s spot as nominee, they have a primary in basically 5 weeks from the vacancy.
Sounds as if Andy Beshear is going to challenge that law in court.
I’m not in the mood for a stunt endorsement.
Let’s get serious.
You were hoping for Nancy Mace or Nikki Hayley?
No.
I would prefer an America First choice with a well documented record.
I trust my President.
Same
We don’tt have time for that right now.
TT
Trust Trump
Defiantly preferable, if one with a documented record and visceral public support actually resided in SC.
Dunno
A rare commodity, to be sure.
This is President Trump’s choice.
All things considered, I support.
“This is President Trump’s choice.”
uhh, no. it is the people of SC’s choice.
Endorsement is the subject of the thread; and the basis of my comment
Not appointment.
Governor McMaster will appoint a senator to fill the remainder of Lindsey Graham’s term.
The people of South Carolina will have their say come the November general election.
Bless your heart
Sorry but no. It will be the people of SC’s open primary’s choice in November. In July it is Governor McMaster’s choice.
PDJT can have an opinion & he can make a recommendation but ultimately it is the elected governor’s choice.
Exactly.
We have a time problem and a seat to put a person into immediately- however we can because we need this vote.
If filling it right then and there as ‘a tribute’ works, then so be it.
There are dreams for the big picture and then there is the need to solve the immediate crisis that just fell in your lap- there are times a band aid does the trick at the immediate moment.
Do you really think that this is not serious?
What is more likely: Trump has already gamed this out, is attempting to preempt a worse pick from McMaster, and is dead serious about gaining as much advantage to push through the agenda of election security, or Trump is just doing a feel good stunt?
The pond is much deeper than the surface, maybe consider at least snorkeling, instead of skimming across the top in your speed boat.
Great response.
This site’s version of Narcissus is so tiresome, enjoying only her reflection in said pond.
Awesome.
Love that Betsy, and it is absolutely accurate when describing what President Trump is doing, and doing it well in my opinion.
When I fell upon this, John, I thought immediately of President Trump who has always taken whatever cards life has dealt to him (some so horrendous they would have sunk a less resilient man), hitched up his trousers, and played them.
He’s well practiced.
This time it will be no different.
Thank God for our President
Yes, as he is fighting for us daily, he uses what resources he has and many in ways, that are unbelievable.
People we never knew, he gathered and they too became warriors.
✝️🇺🇸🦅🙏
I am reminded of the scene from Braveheart, where Longshanks tells his son, “You see, as king, you must find the good in any situation.” This is so true as applies to all leaders, whether they be evil as his character was, or as upstanding as our President.
This also seems to be the number one logical fallacy that most people make when judging actions of leaders, what is formally known as the false dilemma, but what I refer to as the fallacy of option B.
While some choices are binary between A and B, the vast majority of decisions that a leader faces contain more options, and every one of them will affect many other factors. In fact, the vast majority of decisions will have only poor choices, and it is the leader’s responsibility to choose the least poor with the least amount of negatives.
The fallacy of option B operates most commonly by the commenter oversimplifying to two choices, and then when the inevitable negatives arise, claiming that if he were as smart as me, and just went with option B, everything would have come up roses, not realizing that to get roses, you have to have a lot of the muck that roses grow from.
Unintended consequences must be the first criterium to examine when weighing possibilities.
“Unintended consequences”…
How true, how true.
At the risk of boring the pants off people…again…I repeat Lord Macmillan’s response to the question posed to him, asking what could throw his (then) government off track.
“Events, dear boy, events.”
It was ever thus.
Advantage to the man or woman who understands this, is discerning/watchful enough to look further than any particular moment, and is nimble and flexible enough to adjust course in the face of the unexpected.
Too right, John.
Well stated, dear sir.
Yankee Frugal here, a real one: We need to always be ready for the opportunity of making lemonade out the lemons that were just thrown at us.
We do.
As an aside, I’m not a native, but I lived in the Seacoast area for about a decade. My father was born there and 100% Yankee, but I grew up on Air Force bases. Last time I visited, it looked like the Massholes were outnumbering the legitimate refugees.
I believe it is what Sundance calls ‘Playing the downside.’
Instead of running and hiding when something negative comes out, President Trump takes it, holds it, faces it, and says, ‘Yeah, it’s mine. So what?’
He not only plays the downside, he uses it; he controls it.
Tried many times to try and get RINOs to understand that fabulous life lesson, but RINOs gonna RINO and never seem to learn.
If only they’d get the big picture and use this uniquely honest and open approach to “stuff,” instead of running away with their other stuff tucked away, we would be vastly ahead of the evil that approaches.
RINOs aren’t capable, Raven, so wrapped up are they in their own power and self regard, impervious to anyone who challenges their entrenched opinions and agendas.
Never ever will you hear a RINO say, “You know, I’d never looked at (whatever) that way. You might have a point.” And mean it.
I admire your tenacity, sis, and am not surprised by it, knowing you. We are on the battlefield. Keep on trying.
Yes, PDJT has made a LOT of very good lemonade…..
Niiiiice, GB 😉👍🏻
As a Scot I can relate.
No question you can, Dekester, you canny Scot…
Yeah this is exactly it Ms. Betsy.
Perhaps your final paragraph should be included in all replies to She of the Sun.
You are welcome to copy and paste as you deem appropriate; a version of Lepanto’s Narcissus comment should garner equal consideration
Game it out. “Stunt endorsement” is as deep as a puddle.
You haughtily assume our President is playing games, as if he was not serious about our country.
Your hubris remains unmatched. Slick.
Not a stunt.
It’s a perfect move to fill the 5 months left in the term. She will be a Lindsey clone WRT support of Trump and his objectives.
i, for one, hope you continue to unashamedly voice your opinion on things that matter to you, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable to those whose response is blind adherence and low brow insults.
“I’m not in the mood for a stunt endorsement.”
Nor am I. But I do not consider this a stunt. She will be a placeholder. A temporary continuation of Graham’s positions while the republicans of South Carolina gather their options for a full term replacement. That said, if she decides to throw her bonnet into the ring and seek the party’s nomination, then I’m going to be quite vocal in my opposition. I’ve seen quite enough of government offices shaded from sunlight by a political family tree.
From the NYPost ~
“But while he was attending the University of South Carolina, both his parents died of illness just 15 months apart from each other, leaving Graham to legally adopt his then-13-year-old sister and get her through her education.”
And your point in posting this is …?
And yours in questioning his intent, karen?
Wow, that is quite an amazing thing for a young man to do.
Lindsey was only 22 years old when his parents died. And at 22 he took on the role of adopting his 13 year old sister.
I know very few 22 year old men or women today who know how to address an envelope, read a standard clock, tie shoe laces, write a check, show respect to anyone, do their own laundry, etc., etc., so the idea of a 22 year old man adopting his 13 year old sister — months after their parents died — is an amazing thing for him to have done.
Excellent, Raven! 🙌
And her knowledge of her future (if only “temporary”) constituents’ wishes is … what exactly?
How many trips will she be making to Ukraine?
She is undoubtedly named as one of the Senator’s heirs. Conflict of interest.
No, that is not how it would go. Of course she knows the constituency… she is his sister and campaigned with him.
It is only for a few months….
Yup, and in the Senate’s calendar they only have 12 weeks scheduled when the Senate is in ‘session’ and they work very few Fridays while Mondays and Thursdays are generally 1/2 days.
And her knowledge of her future (if only “temporary”) constituents’ wishes is … what exactly?
Born, raised, and educated (U South Carolina, business administration) in South Carolina. Mother of 2 with a career spent helping the disabled find employment. So she has that one covered.
Not some carpetbagger that went to an “elite” university.
Why not give the endorsement to a solid MAGA candidate you want the seat to go to, so that person already has name recognition for the primary? Most people tend to vote for the incumbent anyway.
Who might you consider a solid MAGA candidate?
Since right now most people can’t come up with a name in that State that would be a solid MAGA candidate… I think she’s a good fill in.
Trump is getting ahead of McMasters back door dirty dealings with political favors come due…. (Nancy, Nikki, all his friends have a scheme and they all deal in favors)
Trump sidelined the deals by changing the conversations and putting forward a sympathetic and un-threatening non-politician.
Instead of honoring/makeing/taking political deals, McMaster has to change the conversation to cast shade on Trumps nomination. Or perhaps it gives McMaster an easy out from all the political pressure from his South Carolina politicial vultures…
Trump is brilliant.
Is darling brilliant? Probably not. Perhaps ill be sick at what i learn about her. But Trump sure got ahead and ahold of the situation. Bravo.
Takes time to find and vet that “solid MAGA candidate”. You don’t want the press doing a Platner on the endorsed candidate.
Because they will be spending all their time campaigning instead of attending to Senate business?
I think this a fantastic idea! She wouldn’t rock the apple cart while they find a replacement… and it is a fitting tribute to her brother.
We can trust trump on this one. Looks solid
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who has died at the age of 71 after an unexpected ruptured aorta at his home in Washington D.C., did not have kids. However, in a touching decision, Graham became the legal guardian of his only sibling, his sister Darline Graham Nordone.
The brother and sister forged a tight bond after both of their parents died when Darline was still a juvenile, their mom of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and their dad of a heart attack. Her brother swooped in to take care of her. “He ultimately adopted her after enlisting in the Air Force so that she could receive his military benefits,”
“Lindsey was always my parent,” Nordone told The Times. “There was no doubt in my mind or anyone else’s mind that Lindsey was my guardian.”
mensjournal.com/news/lindsey-g
Great idea from President Trump.
It is the people’s house, not a families seat. The optics suck.
interim Senator- serving the few remaining months of Lindsey’s term before election.
There is nothing in her work experience that qualifies her to fill the seat. The occupation she’s been in seems like an industry that would be heavily staffed with Democrats.
Far too many “qualified” to be in government have run this country into the ground!
It’s temporary.
Why are so many “qualified” folks clamoring for a temporary job provided only by tragedy?
Is it because they’ve no hope of prevailing in an contested election?
We have bartenders, community organizers, activists, foreigners with less work experience, So to me she sounds solid. I hope she wants the position.
Qualifications you say? i think we can accurately say that approx 85% of the lower and upper chambers of congress have 0 qualifications. What makes this brief stint any different?
Passing SAVE AMERICA ACT is imperative.
I think this is smart for the governor to appoint Lindsey’s sister as interim Senator. She has not previously run for public office, so she is a clean slate to continue Lindsey’s policies. There is Senate precedent for this with both Democrat and Republicans having family members replace a deceased member.
The SC Republicans can then have time to sort out who will run in the August 11 primary. If it is an open primary, beware.
Jean Carnahan comes to mind.
Maybe so, but it is the endgame that matters.
Actually it’s been pretty common for spouses to finish their partner’s term. So she’s his sister, a sister who was raised by him. Some go on to run themselves, but most just take the time to wind up their Washington DC lives and go home. There will be a special election in August? for the person that will be the Republican running in November.
Totally disagree!
It’s all about continuity for this seat for THIS session.
She will vote and support as if it were her brother. For 5 months. Only.
Then tne elected in Nov replacement takes over.
No, it’s a typical move where you don’t want to bias the process of getting a candidate.
I basically know nothing about this pick, but do know that it’s because Trump believes that she will help him with election integrity, and not about making a tribute to Graham.
She seems like a solid and stable person. Good idea.
Good grief.
This is all so tiresome.
For who?
Yes we can complain or support.
It’s a choice. President Trump is fighting daily.
He deserves to be tired but doesn’t give up or despair.
Neither shall we.
Our country deserves our perseverance.
It’s going to get worse so help.
Considering the choices from the Political world who’ve risen to the occasion, Darlene seems a pragmatic choice.
Likely, she would be no more venomous than they and, perhaps, without an agenda, more inclined to thoughtful consideration and less political volatility than the jackals and hyenas presently circling the unexpected prize.
From what we know of her character, she seems a steady, well adjusted, thoughtful choice for the interim.
Jackals/hyenas…
Not so much.
Let the denizens of DC fight it out in the primary.
Darline
^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^
Keep your eye on the prize…SAVE America Act!!!
Precisely!
I guess this is one of those cases where we can’t let perfect be the enemy of good.
Indeed!
As long as she doesn’t become the endorsed candidate for the runoff, then whatever. There’s no way we should vote in another Graham for SC senate
This really is not out of the ordinary. In the past a number of people have died in office and had a spouse or close relative fill the time until a special election can be sorted.
Well, at least she doesn’t have any adopted black daughters and she has grandchildren.
An excellent idea…
RNC will cheat so we get another Lindsey Graham 2.0. She’ll win the primary and general. Yeah.
I don’t know about “RNC cheating”, but I do know Chair Gruters works closely with the White House political staff, so I expect the RNC will implement a joint strategy with the WH for SC. It does put (with the shake-up in Maine) some new pins on the battle map. Drew McKissick is the state chair and will have his hands full. I’m not sure how this primary will work, but I think SC is an open primary state so any “registered” voter can vote. I assume there is no time available for any sort of absentee ballot request/delivery but maybe they do allow for it.
No! No! No! I’m sure she’s a nice person, but stop with the nepotism.
Not speaking ill of the dead only truth and that is Graham was a warmonger, a Ukraine kisser and too close to President Trump for comfort as it seems there was a great deal of influence going on. Sorry but another Graham is a bit too much after some of the stuff I’ve been Graham manage to perform per leverage of say getting the Save America Act passed just after President Trump said he may sell Ukraine missiles. .
PT said in his last call with Graham…that Lyndsey wanted the Save act……he seemed to stress that,,,,
so this endorsement is not only out of kindness ,but is made with the Save America Act in mind.
I
m sure he has thought this out.I dont know anything about the lady to give an opinion on her……….but I do trust in PT.
Frankly, I like the idea. Lindsey’s sister will vote exactly the way Lindsey did….which overall was almost always what we would want.
Her being tne interim choice allows those trying to replace Graham as tne GOP nominee in Nov to concentrate on THAT.
I hope she accepts the offer if proffered.
Oh h3ll no…
Totally concur!
The rooster can stay in the coop, thank you for your attention to this matter!
A black man endorsing a wanna be rooster. Can’t make it up
Sea Island endorsing Sea Island.
Watch for Senator Cotton to agree with Senator Scott.
He should stay on TV. All talk, no action when he was in Congress
🤮
This is symbolic. No legislation of any importance will be passed by thune and the other simps before the midterms (and probably not after, either) so being nice will cost nothing. It will, however, reinforce the message that PDJT47 is no better friend and no worse enemy to the spineless.
Interesting choice. This allows for the MAGA candidates to run for the seat and may the right one win. No backdoor shenanigans.
Graham had 5 opponents in the June primary, so you could think they would be a part of any primary to come may be more could jump in, the winner would be seated in January.
Then the winner would be at the bottom of the heap, not much influence as they say. SC choose wisely!
SC has an open primary. Graham’s opponents are typically splitter candidates so that the centrists in the Columbia-Myrtle Beach-Charelston triangle get him across the finish line.
The ones that lost out in the governor race – Pamela Evette, Ralph Norman, Nancy Mace, as well as, former governor Nikki Haley will most likely be looking to run. I haven’t heard/read about another state official looking to run.
Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister Darline reacts to Trump recommending her to fill out SC Senate seat
https://nypost.com/2026/07/13/us-news/lindsey-grahams-sister-reacts-to-trump-recommending-her-to-fill-out-sc-senate-seat
This endorsement is a clever use of the Lindsey Graham story arc that’s been in wide circulation since his death. There is an inspirational storybook kind of symmetry in the kid sister taking over for the big brother who raised her when their parents died. I don’t know anything about her, but if she’s reliably conservative it would be a tough appointment to raise much fuss against.
Well, since she has no experience, she will probably do what she’s told. Hopefully that will be what the POTUS recommends and not the swamp creatures who will threaten her and her family if she doesn’t vote for their agenda.
Let’s say NO, enough of this nepotistic bullshit. There has to be someone better.
Why?
And the reason he died so suddenly is?
Heart attack.
Pretty damn common for an over 70 male who is fairly out of shape and burning candle at both ends 😎
Specifically, aortic dissection brought on by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
I think this is a great idea! Let’s the late Senator’s term be filled by someone who knew him while letting the Governor claim he’s not playing politics by picking a current politician to fill the seat who can then clam incumbancy during the upcoming election and lets the entire group of wanna-be Senators freedom to throw their hats in the ring.
That would be the smart play.
Sounds fair.
Everyone with something to gain has to leave the starting gate at the same time.
I’m not down for royal lines of political succession but she cannot be as bad or worse than Nancy Mace or Nimrata Haley.
That would be a nice gesture.
Lindsey’s death was a shock.
Utterly disappointing that President Trump would do this. I live in SC, have NEVER appreciated Lindsey Graham to be for SC interest at all. He was a political hack. Now, we want his sister to finish his term? That’s the dumbest damn thing I’ve ever heard. I’m very close to believing President Trump to be a dimwit. He could ask Jim DeMint or one of probably 10,000 South Carolinians but to support Graham’s sister. What the actual hell…..