Darline Graham

Darline Graham
Official portrait, 2026
United States Senator
from South Carolina
Assumed office
July 14, 2026
Serving with Tim Scott
Appointed byHenry McMaster
Preceded byLindsey Graham
Succeeded byAnnie Andrews (elect)
Personal details
Born
Darlene Lettie Graham

(1964-06-12) June 12, 1964 (age 62)
Central, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Larry Nordone
Children2
RelativesLindsey Graham (brother)
EducationCollege of Charleston (BS)
South Carolina State University (MA)
WebsiteSenate website

Darline Lettie Graham Nordone (born Darlene Graham; June 12, 1964) is an American employment specialist, sociologist and politician who is the junior United States senator from South Carolina since 2026. She is the younger sister of the U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. She lost the 2026 election for a full six-year term to Democratic nominee Annie Andrews.

Early life

Darlene Graham was born on June 12, 1964 in Central, South Carolina. Graham's mother died when she was twelve years old; her father died fifteen months later. After their deaths, her older brother Lindsey Graham raised her and eventually adopted her. Lindsey taught her to spell her name as Darline. She earned a bachelor of science in sociology at the College of Charleston in 1989.

Career

By 2008, Graham had worked in the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. She helped run a work-from-home program for Time Warner. She also helped her brother during his Senate campaigns. Graham supported her brother's campaign for President of the United States in the 2016 election.

U.S. Senate

After Lindsey Graham's death, Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to replace her brother in the U.S. Senate on July 13, 2026. South Carolina senator Tim Scott spoke to Graham after her brother's death. That same day, President Donald Trump supported the idea of McMaster picking Graham as interim senator.

Graham was sworn in as senator on July 14, 2026 at the U.S. Capitol. She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate. It is also the first time that a sister replaced her brother in the United States Congress. Trump had also asked Graham to run for a full six-year term in the 2026 election. On July 20, Graham announced that she would run for a full term in the 2026 election. She would go on to lose the November general election to Democratic nominee Annie Andrews.

Committee assignments

Personal life

Graham is married to Larry Nordone. She has two children.

References

  1. ↑ Tony Santaella (July 13, 2026), SC governor selects Darline Graham Nordone to temporarily fill Lindsey Graham's U.S. Senate seat, WLTX, retrieved July 13, 2026
  2. 1 2 Ball, Molly (June 10, 2014). "How Lindsey Graham Stomped the Tea Party". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Baker, Mike (July 13, 2026). "From a Young Age, Graham and His Sister Had a Tight Bond". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  4. ↑ Davenport, Jim; Adcox, Seanna (June 2, 2008). "South Carolina Senate GOP primary is 'David and Goliath'". The Beaufort Gazette. Associated Press. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  5. ↑ Self, Jamie (May 20, 2014). "Lindsey Graham's sister discusses childhood, losing parents in senator's new campaign ads". The State. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  6. ↑ Byrd, Caitlin (July 13, 2026). "Who is Darline Graham Nordone? Lindsey Graham's sister and South Carolina's interim US senator". The Post and Courier. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  7. ↑ Reid, Czerne (July 18, 2008). "New program offers 'another chance at life'". The State. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  8. ↑ Asberry, Derrek (June 1, 2015). "Sen. Lindsey Graham: 'I want to be president'". Aiken Standard. Retrieved July 13, 2026. [permanent dead link]
  9. ↑ "Graham's death rocks Senate as Congress returns". Punchbowl News. July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  10. ↑ Watson, Kathryn; Gómez, Fin (July 13, 2026). "South Carolina governor to announce appointment for Lindsey Graham's Senate seat Monday". CBS News. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  11. ↑ Koseff, Alexei; Zakrzewski, Cat (July 13, 2026). "Trump recommends that Lindsey Graham's sister serve rest of his Senate term". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  12. ↑ Carney, Jordain (July 13, 2026). "Darline Graham Nordone's swearing-in". Politico. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  13. ↑ Dorn, Sara. "Lindsey Graham's Sister Darline Graham Nordone WIll Finish His Senate Term". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  14. ↑ Eskow, Nick (July 14, 2026). "Darline Graham sworn in to the Senate as first sister to succeed a brother". Roll Call.
  15. ↑ "Trump urges Darline Graham to run for full Senate term as funeral scheduled for Lindsey Graham". AP News. 2026-07-17. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  16. ↑ "Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, says she'll run for full Senate term". CBS News. July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Democrat Annie Andrews defeats GOP Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina, a major upset". NBC News. November 3, 2026. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Quiñones, Manuel; Carney, Jordain (July 22, 2026). "Darline Graham joining Environment and Public Works". E&E News. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  19. ↑ Ward, Jon (June 1, 2015). "Lindsey Graham announces presidential candidacy, highlighting his personal story". Yahoo.com. Retrieved July 13, 2026.

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