South Carolina appoints Darline Graham to U.S. Senate seat

Henry McMaster named Darline Graham Nordone to the U.S. Senate on July 13, giving South Carolina a temporary successor to Lindsey Graham’s seat. McMaster said Nordone will be the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate and will serve only until January 3, 2027, when the new Congress convenes.

Nordone arrives with a public-service résumé that is broader than the caretaker label attached to the appointment. She has spent nearly 30 years in service, including since 2019 as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, where she has worked on employment and independence for people who are blind or have low vision. Her earlier posts included Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, and the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. She also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board, holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, and is a Certified Public Manager.

Tim Scott publicly backed former Rep. Trey Gowdy for the short-term opening and had already made calls pitching him as a possible caretaker. McMaster was leaning in a different direction. Donald Trump said he had “somebody” in mind. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette was also mentioned as a possible successor.

The legal calendar leaves little room for maneuver. South Carolina law allows the governor to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy by appointment until January 3 after the next general election, and it requires an election order within five days if an unexpired term remains. Because Lindsey Graham had already been the Republican nominee, the party must hold a special primary to choose a replacement nominee for the ballot. Filing opens July 21 and closes July 28, with a special Republican primary on August 11 and a runoff, if needed, on August 25. Lindsey Graham died on July 12 at 71, with a preliminary medical finding pointing to aortic dissection.