Washington — Darline Graham, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was sworn in Tuesday to fill the remainder of his Senate term, just days after his sudden death over the weekend.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa administered the oath on the Senate floor, where dozens of senators from both parties gathered and rose in applause. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, were also present for the ceremony.
Graham died late Saturday at age 71. He was unmarried and had no children, but shared a close bond with his sister. After their parents died in quick succession when he was in his early twenties, the future senator became Darline Graham’s legal guardian when she was 13.
With her swearing-in, Darline Graham becomes the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.
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South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her Monday to complete her brother’s term, following encouragement from President Trump and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. At an emotional news conference announcing the decision, McMaster said, “Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed,” adding that it was an “honor to ask his little sister Darline Graham to finish his work for him now.”
Darline Graham, 62, described the appointment as “such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work.” She pledged 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.”
“Lindsey has always been there for me,” she said. “And now I will be there for him.”
The late senator’s term runs until early January, when the new Congress is set to be sworn in. Because the four-term senator had been seeking reelection, South Carolina will hold a special primary election on Aug. 11 to choose a Republican to replace him on the ballot.
Darline Graham, who has had a career in disabilities services and most recently served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, doesn’t have a background in elected office. But she said Monday that with the support of her brother’s staff, she feels confident in her ability to carry out the role. Whether she runs for a six-year term or opts to serve simply as a caretaker for the seat for the coming months remains to be seen.
“I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted,” she said. “And I plan to honor him in this way.”
