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Newly minted Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., represents a series of firsts for the Senate and for her home state.
Graham, who was sworn in on Tuesday, is the first female senator from the Palmetto State, the first sister ever appointed to the upper chamber and the first person to fill the colossal gap left behind by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
“Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him,” Darline Graham said during her appointment ceremony. “My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man.”
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Darline Graham speaks during a news conference outside the governor’s South Carolina State House office in Columbia, S.C. (Grant Baldwin/Getty Images)
Though she’s never held elected office, she has had front-row seats to her brother’s work, appearing with him on the campaign trail and during his own swearing-in ceremonies.
“It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States,” she continued.
Years ago, when her brother was running for president, he was asked by C-SPAN whether, if he made it to the White House, his sister would get a role in the administration.
“If she took a role, she would be a great representative of our country. I can’t think of a better person to represent our country in an event than my sister,” Lindsey Graham said in 2015.
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Her sudden ascension to the Senate and subsequent swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday in the old Senate chamber just a few yards from the Senate floor capped a fast-moving first chapter in replacing her brother, whose shocking death sent shock waves through Washington, D.C., and beyond.
Darline Graham was appointed to fulfill the remainder of her brother’s term Monday by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. President Donald Trump recommended she get the position, and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., spoke with her several times before appearing alongside her in Columbia, South Carolina.
“Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed. It’s my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham, to finish his work for him now,” McMaster said.
She is expected to act as a caretaker for the seat, finishing off the remainder of Lindsey Graham’s term through January, when a new face will take over as the junior senator for South Carolina.
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Former Sen. Lindsey Grahama and his sister, Darline Graham (Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the public and private battle for the special election to replace Lindsey Graham as the GOP nominee in South Carolina is in full swing. So far, both Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., have shown interest in jumping into the race, which is scheduled for Aug. 11.
Trump has not yet said who he would endorse in the contest but did show interest in Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., who he backed in his first run for the House in 2022 when he toppled former Rep. Tom Rice, R-S.C., who was one of 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach him in his first term.
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And in the immediate future, Republicans will have to figure out replacements for Lindsey Graham on the several committees he sat on.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the conference was still “working through” that task.
“Obviously, his sister will be sworn in today, and then we’ll figure out which of his committees she wants to stay on, and then we’ll go from there,” Thune said.