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Who could replace Lindsey Graham? South Carolina's next steps after senator's death

Darline Graham was appointed to serve the remaining months of her brother’s Senate term.

Who could replace Lindsey Graham? South Carolina's next steps after senator's death
Image · Winnipeg Free Press

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Outlet credibilityWinnipeg Free Press91/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 4, 2026

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Winnipeg Free Pressoriginal publisher not identified
Jul 13, 2026
tl;dr

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster named Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, to temporarily fill his Senate seat after his death. A special election is expected to draw several Republican contenders, while the article notes a federal deadline issue involving military and overseas ballots.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Darline Graham R · SC · SEN
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Graham in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Graham’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Darline Graham
R · SC · SEN

interim U.S. senator appointed to fill her brother’s vacancy

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Lindsey Graham
Former U.S. Senator (R-SC)

U.S. senator whose death created the vacancy

Graham's version of this story ↗
Nancy Mace
R · SC-1

U.S. representative and possible Senate candidate

Russell Fry
R · SC-7

U.S. representative identified as a possible Senate candidate

Graham’s former Democratic opponent

Mark Lynch
R · SC

businessman and possible Senate candidate

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

president who supported the interim appointment

Ralph Norman
R · SC-5

U.S. representative and possible Senate candidate

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader

Scott Bessent
R · Secretary of the Treasury

Treasury secretary who was contacted about potentially filling the seat

Democratic Senate nominee

ALSO MENTIONED  Alan Wilson, South Carolina attorney general and Republican nominee for governor; Henry McMaster, South Carolina governor who appointed Darline Graham; Mark Sanford, former South Carolina governor and former U.S. representative, mentioned as a possible contender; Pamela Evette, South Carolina lieutenant governor and possible Senate candidate

Part of a bigger story

9 OUTLETS
South Carolina Appoints Darline Graham Nordone to Senate Seat

Outlets agree that Lindsey Graham’s death left his Senate seat vacant and that his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, was positioned to fill it. Center outlets focus on the appointment and special-election field, including possible ballot-schedule issues, while one also recounts the siblings’ family history. Right-leaning outlets foreground Trump’s support for her selection and, in one account, her grief.

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