President Trump on Monday recommended the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham to serve as interim senator for the remainder of his term that ends in January.
He said appointing the sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to fill the vacancy would honor Mr. Graham, who died suddenly Saturday at age 71.
“I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,” Mr. Trump said on Truth Social. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”
Mr. McMaster is expected to appoint someone to the seat who will not run for the seat in an upcoming special election.
Mr. Graham adopted his much younger sister and raised her when he was 21, following the deaths of their parents.
Mr. Graham’s death was unexpected. According to a preliminary medical examiner’s finding shared by his office, Mr. Graham died of a rupture in his aorta, related to hardening in his arteries.
His death stunned Washington while setting off a scramble among Republicans to fill his Senate seat.
Mr. McMaster, a Republican, can appoint a temporary replacement to fill the remaining five months of Mr. Graham’s fourth term and must set a speedy primary to decide which Republican will replace Mr. Graham on the November ballot.
The winner would face off against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews.
The race had been rated “solid Republican” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, meaning Mr. Graham was expected to win in November.
A list of Republican hopefuls is emerging. Among them are the same contenders who competed in the GOP gubernatorial primary, including Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
