Darline Graham

Darline Graham

Darline Graham
Official portrait, 2026
United States Senator
from South Carolina
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 14, 2026
Serving with Tim Scott
Appointed byHenry McMaster
Preceded byLindsey Graham
Commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind
In office
July 11, 2019 – July 14, 2026
GovernorHenry McMaster
Preceded byJames Kirby
Succeeded byLuis Gamarra Mendoza (acting)
Personal details
BornDarlene Lettie Graham
(1964-06-12) June 12, 1964 (age 62)
Central, South Carolina, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Larry Nordone
​
(m. 2006)​
Children2
RelativesLindsey Graham (brother)
EducationCollege of Charleston (BS)
South Carolina State University (MA)
Other names
Darline Graham Boggs[1]
WebsiteSenate website
Campaign website

Darline Lettie Graham Nordone[2] (born Darlene Lettie Graham;[a] June 12, 1964) is an American politician and public administrator serving as the junior United States senator from South Carolina, a seat she has held since July 14, 2026. A member of the Republican Party, she was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham. She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate.

Early life and education

Darlene Lettie Graham[3][4] was born in Central, South Carolina, on June 12, 1964.[5][6][7] Her parents, Florence James "F.J." Graham and Millie Graham (née Walters), operated a restaurant, bar, liquor store, and pool hall, and the family lived in rooms behind the business.[6] Her mother died of cancer when Graham was 11, and her father died from a heart attack 15 months later.[8][9] After their deaths, Graham's brother, Lindsey, arranged for her to live with her aunt and uncle in Seneca, South Carolina. Before joining the Air Force in 1982, Lindsey—who was nine years her senior—became Graham's legal guardian.[10][11] He taught her to spell her first name "Darline", a spelling she continues to use in adulthood.[3]

Graham graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in sociology in 1989.[12] She also earned a Master of Arts in rehabilitation counseling from South Carolina State University in 2009.[13][14]

Career

Public administration

In 2008, Graham began working for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. She helped coordinate a remote work program for adults with severe disabilities for Time Warner.[15] By 2015, she was the department's public information director.[16]

In 2019, Graham became commissioner and agency head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, which administers vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and blindness-prevention programs for South Carolinians who are blind or have low vision.[17] She also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and its SC Works Management Committee. In 2026, she was elected president of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, with her term scheduled to start in January 2027.[12]

Political involvement

In 2002, Graham appeared in a television advertisement for Lindsey's campaign in that year's United States Senate election in South Carolina.[18] She continued to assist in his subsequent campaigns, discussing her childhood during the 2014[11] and 2026 Senate races.[19] Graham supported her brother's campaign for president of the United States in the 2016 election, introducing him in his first campaign speech.[20]

U.S. Senate

Appointment

South Carolina governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham on July 13, 2026, to fill her brother's vacant senate seat,[21] the same day President Donald Trump endorsed her.[22] She was sworn in on July 14.[23] She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate and the first senator to replace a sibling.[24][25][26] Her appointment marked the first time 27 women have served concurrently in the Senate, including 11 Republican women, both records.[27][28]

2026 election

Main article: 2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina

President Trump publicly encouraged Graham on July 17 to run in the 2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina and promised to endorse her if she did.[29] Graham told Sean Hannity three days later that she intended to run for a full term.[30] She came in first in the special primary election on August 11, advancing to a runoff with Ralph Norman.[31]

Tenure

Graham is ceremonially sworn in by Chuck Grassley on July 14, 2026

Graham introduced legislation on July 16 to impose sanctions on Russia. The legislation is based on the Sanctioning Russia Act, a bill Lindsey Graham authored and supported, and has bipartisan support.[32]

Committee assignments

Personal life

Graham married Larry Nordone circa 2006.[4] They live in Lexington, South Carolina.[34] Graham is a mother of two.[6]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ Bauerlein, Valerie (October 14, 2002). "Senate hopefuls take different TV ad angles". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  2. ^ "Sen. Darline Graham - R South Carolina, In Office - Biography". LegiStorm. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Ball, Molly (June 10, 2014). "How Lindsey Graham Stomped the Tea Party". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "Marriage Licenses, Lexington County". The State. May 25, 2006. p. 8. Retrieved July 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  5. ^ United States Congress. "GRAHAM, Darline (id: G000608)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  6. ^ a b c Baker, Mike (July 13, 2026). "From a Young Age, Graham and His Sister Had a Tight Bond". The New York Times. ProQuest 3363166393. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  7. ^ Davenport, Jim; Adcox, Seanna (June 2, 2008). "South Carolina Senate GOP primary is 'David and Goliath'". The Beaufort Gazette. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 6, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  8. ^ Binday, Ben (July 13, 2026). "Darline Graham Nordone has little political history beyond praising her brother". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  9. ^ Summers, Juana (May 31, 2015). "5 things you should know about Lindsey Graham". NPR. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  10. ^ Blair, Caroline (July 13, 2026). "Who Is Lindsey Graham's Sister? What to Know About Darline Graham Nordone". People. Archived from the original on July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  11. ^ a b Self, Jamie (May 20, 2014). "Lindsey Graham's sister discusses childhood, losing parents in senator's new campaign ads". The State. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  12. ^ a b Byrd, Caitlin (July 13, 2026). "Who is Darline Graham? Lindsey Graham's sister and South Carolina's interim US senator". The Post and Courier. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  13. ^ Santaella, Tony (July 13, 2026). "Who is Darline Graham? Meet the woman appointed to temporarily fill Lindsey Graham's U.S. Senate seat". WLTX. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  14. ^ "Darline Graham, Senator for South Carolina". United States Senate. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  15. ^ Reid, Czerne (July 18, 2008). "New program offers 'another chance at life'". The State. p. 32. Retrieved July 13, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Austin Industrial Honored". Aiken Standard. June 2, 2015. p. 9. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
  17. ^ Luterman, Sara (July 17, 2026). "Darline Graham's career centered disability. Now she could help shape national policy". The 19th. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  18. ^ Bauerlein, Valerie (October 14, 2002). "Senate hopefuls take different TV ad angles". The State. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  19. ^ Lowenkron, Hadriana; Wasson, Erik (July 13, 2026). "Trump Recommends Graham's Sister Serve Out His Senate Term". Bloomberg News. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  20. ^ Asberry, Derrek (June 1, 2015). "Sen. Lindsey Graham: 'I want to be president'". Aiken Standard. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  21. ^ Shabad, Rebecca; Coronell Uribe, Raquel (July 13, 2026). "South Carolina governor appoints Lindsey Graham's sister to finish his Senate term". NBC News. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  22. ^ Koseff, Alexei; Zakrzewski, Cat (July 13, 2026). "Trump recommends that Lindsey Graham's sister serve rest of his Senate term". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  23. ^ Popat, Shrai (July 14, 2026). "Darline Graham, sister of Lindsey Graham, sworn in to fulfill his Senate term". The Guardian. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  24. ^ Eskow, Nick (July 14, 2026). "Darline Graham sworn in to the Senate as first sister to succeed a brother". Roll Call. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  25. ^ Huiskes, Helen (July 14, 2026). "Darline Graham, sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, sworn in as senator". The Hill. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  26. ^ Hubbard, Kaia (July 14, 2026). "Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, sworn in to serve the remainder of Senate term". CBS News. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  27. ^ Giroux, Greg (July 14, 2026). "Darline Graham's Appointment Brings Senate Women to Record High". Bloomberg Government. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  28. ^ "Lindsey Graham's sister sworn in as US Senator days after his death". The Straits Times. July 15, 2026.
  29. ^ Johansen, Ben (July 17, 2026). "Trump endorses Darline Graham for Lindsay Graham's open Senate seat". Politico. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  30. ^ Hubbard, Kaia (July 20, 2026). "Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, says she'll run for full Senate term". CBS News. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  31. ^ Mueller, Julia (August 11, 2026). "Graham, Norman advance to runoff in South Carolina GOP primary for Senate". The Hill. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  32. ^ "Risch, Graham, Blumenthal Lead 60+ Senators in Announcing Agreement on Legislation to Hold Purchasers of Russian Oil Accountable". United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  33. ^ a b c d Quiñones, Manuel; Carney, Jordain (July 22, 2026). "Darline Graham joining Environment and Public Works". E&E News. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  34. ^ Ward, Jon (June 1, 2015). "Lindsey Graham announces presidential candidacy, highlighting his personal story". Yahoo.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
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