Republican senators are rallying behind Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who was appointed to temporarily fill her brother's seat and help the GOP preserve its narrow Senate majority. Nordone, sworn in Tuesday, becomes the first female senator from South Carolina and the first sister ever appointed to the U.S. Senate.
«She will do a great job,» Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., told Fox News Digital. «She'll represent the same values that he represents.» Marshall added that Nordone would «intuitively know how he would vote on particular issues» and described her as «a strong American first conservative for South Carolina.»
Nordone's appointment came just two days after Graham died from an aortic dissection, a sudden medical emergency that shocked the Capitol. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a close ally of President Donald Trump, appointed Nordone to serve the remainder of Graham's term, which ends Jan. 3. Trump publicly endorsed Nordone shortly before McMaster made the appointment official, a move permitted under South Carolina law.
«It's amazing how life goes on,» Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said. «The country needs to continue. The Senate needs to do its work. And I think choosing who the Governor McMaster chose to replace him is perfect.» Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., noted that «Darline really was the light of his life» and praised the personal story behind her rise: after their parents died within a year of each other, a then-22-year-old Graham became Nordone's legal guardian when she was just 13, later adopting her so she could qualify for his Air Force benefits and pushing her to complete her education.
Nordone's swift appointment restored Republicans to a 53-seat majority in the Senate, after Graham's death temporarily reduced the GOP conference by one seat. The party is working to protect that majority ahead of the upcoming special election to fill the seat permanently. A one-week filing period for a special primary election begins July 21, with the primary itself scheduled for Aug. 11. If a runoff is needed, it would follow two weeks later on Aug. 25, leaving the eventual nominee two months of campaigning before the general election on Nov. 3.
Beyond backing Nordone, GOP senators repeatedly returned to the theme of Graham's character and his unusual ability to build friendships across the conference. «Lindsey's the kind of guy that did so many good things for so many people over the decades that there's probably 99 senators right now saying he was one of their best friends,» Cramer said. Marshall echoed that sentiment: «Lindsey was a dear friend, one of my besties. And I think what's interesting, there's probably 98 of us up here that think Lindsey Graham was one of our best friends. We were that close to each other.»
Nordone, who has never held elected office, has had a front-row seat to her brother's work, appearing with him on the campaign trail and during his own swearing-in ceremonies. During her appointment ceremony, she said: «Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him. My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man.» She added, «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 the United States.»
Nordone has not stated whether she would consider running for a full six-year term as senator. However, Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., have begun laying the groundwork for bids. The special election process will determine who ultimately holds the seat long-term, but for now, GOP senators are united behind Nordone as a temporary steward of Graham's legacy.
