Darline Graham, SC’s first female U.S. Senator, sworn in at nation’s capital
Darline Graham was sworn in to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday afternoon, a role she will hold for about six months.
She was chosen to fill in for her older brother U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. The appointment of Darline Graham after Lindsey Graham’s sudden death Saturday saw sweeping support from lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
She’ll be the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Sens. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, and Katie Britt, R-Alabama, escorted Darline Graham into the Senate chambers before she took the oath around 2:30 p.m. She was sworn in by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. Lawmakers gathered around her after the swearing in.
Graham cast her first vote just before 3 p.m., a yes to end debate on a military funding bill. Her name was called as “Ms. Graham,” though she previously went by Graham Nordone.
While in office, Darline Graham said she would finish her older brother’s “important work.” Lindsey Graham recently championed a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia.
“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,” Graham said in Columbia on Monday after her appointment was announced.
Trump endorsed Lindsey Graham’s sister, calling it a “fabulous tribute” to the late senator in a Truth Social post Monday morning.
“Lindsey spent his whole life looking out for his sister, Darline, and it’s a wonderful tribute that she is now carrying his legacy of service across the finish line,” Scott said in a statement Tuesday.
Other members of South Carolina’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a Democrat, also celebrated Graham’s appointment.
“A 2009 graduate of South Carolina State University, Senator Graham Nordone becomes the first woman and the first HBCU graduate to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate,” Clyburn said in a statement Tuesday. “This is a testament to the progress our nation continues to make in expanding opportunities for women to serve at the highest levels of public office.”
Darline Graham will finish out her brother’s term, which ends Jan. 3, 2027. Lindsey Graham died suddenly Saturday evening, with a preliminary report indicating he died from an aortic dissection — a tear in the aorta— due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Graham’s colleagues continued to mourn him in Washington, D.C., with several senators giving speeches remembering him. The U.S. Capitol flags were flown at half-staff in honor of the late senior senator of South Carolina.
An election will be held Aug. 11 to determine the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. The winner of the August Republican primary will compete against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November.
This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 3:52 PM.