Lindsey Graham's sister chosen as replacement after senator's death
Image: BBC News
Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, will serve as his temporary replacement after the South Carolina lawmaker died from an aortic tear on Saturday.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster formally chose Nordone on Monday, introducing her as Graham's "darling little sister" who would "finish his work for him now".
"It is such an honour. Lindsey has always been there for me and now I will be there for him," Nordone said. The move followed calls from officials including President Donald Trump for her to serve as a tribute to the senator, who never married and had no children.
Graham was close with his sister, whom he legally adopted after their parents died when they were young. The two remained tightly bound throughout his political career.
There is a long tradition in US politics of family members stepping in to finish a deceased lawmaker's term. Nordone's appointment keeps the seat in the family until a permanent successor is chosen.
The arrangement is intended as a short-term fill, allowing South Carolina to retain representation in the Senate while mourners and politicians pay tribute to one of its longest-serving figures.