South Carolina Names Graham’s Sister to Senate Amid Divided Reaction to His Death

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died of a torn artery, according to preliminary findings from the District of Columbia medical examiner’s office. His sister has since been appointed to finish his term, becoming the 27th woman currently serving in the Senate, while his death has drawn both tributes and sharp criticism.

Graham, 71, died Saturday night, July 11, after what his office called a brief and sudden illness. The medical examiner’s office attributed the death to aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Officials said the death certificate would remain pending until toxicology and microscopic testing are complete.

Paramedics responded to Graham’s Washington residence Saturday evening. A person was carried from the home on a stretcher and taken to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:23 p.m. The Metropolitan Police Department led the death investigation, while the medical examiner’s office determined the cause and manner of death.

Graham had returned from Kyiv a day earlier. He had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. President Trump said he spoke with Graham by phone Saturday evening, hours before the senator’s death. Trump told NBC News that Graham seemed tired but otherwise fine during that call.

Trump Recommends Graham’s Sister for Seat

South Carolina law required Gov. Henry McMaster to appoint a temporary replacement. The law also set a special Republican primary for Aug. 11, with candidate filing opening July 21.

Trump publicly backed Graham’s sister for the post. He wrote on Truth Social that appointing her would be a fitting tribute to Graham. McMaster announced the appointment Monday, saying it was his honor to ask Graham’s sister to finish his work.

Darline Graham Nordone became the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. Her swearing-in also brought the chamber’s total number of women to 27, a record high, up from the previous count of 26. She had served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind since 2019.

Lindsey Graham became his sister’s legal guardian at age 22, after both of their parents died within 15 months of each other. Nordone will serve through January, when a new Congress convenes. The winner of November’s general election will begin a full six-year term.

Nordone Expected to Vote With Trump

Nordone has framed her role in explicitly loyal terms. During her appointment announcement, she said she planned to work hard to support the president and continue her brother’s efforts on behalf of South Carolina and the country.

Political observers have described her as a reliable vote for Trump’s agenda for the remainder of the term, citing her family ties to Graham’s politics and her public statements since taking office. Trump has since endorsed her to run for a full six-year term in the November election, urging her in a Truth Social post to enter the special Republican primary. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott said she had gotten off to a strong start in her first days in office.

Nordone had never held elected office before her appointment. She has not formally confirmed a campaign, though people familiar with her thinking say she has expressed interest in running for the seat in her own right.

Allies Praise a Longtime Foreign Policy Voice

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster called Graham a close friend and colleague. Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said he and Graham often disagreed but never doubted Graham’s commitment to national service.

Zelenskyy and Israeli officials also praised Graham after his death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had lost one of its greatest friends.

Critics Renew Attacks on Graham’s War Record

Not every reaction was sympathetic. Some critics used Graham’s death to revisit his decades-long support for military intervention abroad, particularly regarding Iran, Israel, and Gaza.

Former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia drew the most attention. A day after Graham’s death, she quote-posted a U.S. Central Command announcement of new strikes on Iran, writing that “Lindsey Graham would be proud.” The post drew criticism from some fellow conservatives, who called it poorly timed.

Greene expanded on her criticism two days later during an appearance on The Young Turks. She called Graham a neoconservative who supported war more than peace, and argued his backing of Trump helped push the administration toward more hawkish positions than she said voters expected. She suggested Graham’s late-term push to end the Iran conflict was driven by concern over midterm election fallout rather than a genuine change in position.

Greene left the Republican Party earlier in the year over disagreements on Israel policy and the handling of Epstein-related files. She had criticized Graham’s foreign policy views before his death as well, including his past comments on Israel’s military capacity in Gaza.

Conservative outlet Townhall separately noted that Graham had long drawn criticism from within his own party. Critics have pointed to his consistent support for military intervention and his 2013 push for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died of a torn artery, according to preliminary findings from the District of Columbia medical examiner’s office. His sister has since been appointed to finish his term, while his death has drawn both tributes and sharp criticism.

Graham, 71, died Saturday night, July 11, after what his office called a brief and sudden illness. The medical examiner’s office attributed the death to aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Officials said the death certificate would remain pending until toxicology and microscopic testing are complete.

Paramedics responded to Graham’s Washington residence Saturday evening. A person was carried from the home on a stretcher and taken to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:23 p.m. The Metropolitan Police Department led the death investigation, while the medical examiner’s office determined the cause and manner of death.

Graham had returned from Kyiv a day earlier. He had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. President Trump said he spoke with Graham by phone Saturday evening, hours before the senator’s death. Trump told NBC News that Graham seemed tired but otherwise fine during that call.

Trump Recommends Graham’s Sister for Seat

South Carolina law required Gov. Henry McMaster to appoint a temporary replacement. The law also set a special Republican primary for Aug. 11, with candidate filing opening July 21.

Trump publicly backed Graham’s sister for the post. He wrote on Truth Social that appointing her would be a fitting tribute to Graham. McMaster announced the appointment Monday, saying it was his honor to ask Graham’s sister to finish his work.

Darline Graham Nordone became the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. She had served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind since 2019. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said she would be sworn in Tuesday afternoon.

Lindsey Graham became his sister’s legal guardian at age 22, after both of their parents died within 15 months of each other. Nordone will serve through January, when a new Congress convenes. The winner of November’s general election will begin a full six-year term.

Allies Praise a Longtime Foreign Policy Voice

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster called Graham a close friend and colleague. Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said he and Graham often disagreed but never doubted Graham’s commitment to national service.

Zelenskyy and Israeli officials also praised Graham after his death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had lost one of its greatest friends.

Critics Renew Attacks on Graham’s War Record

Not every reaction was sympathetic. Some critics used Graham’s death to revisit his decades-long support for military intervention abroad, particularly regarding Iran, Israel, and Gaza.

Former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia drew the most attention. A day after Graham’s death, she quote-posted a U.S. Central Command announcement of new strikes on Iran, writing that “Lindsey Graham would be proud.” The post drew criticism from some fellow conservatives, who called it poorly timed.

Greene expanded on her criticism two days later during an appearance on The Young Turks. She called Graham a neoconservative who supported war more than peace, and argued his backing of Trump helped push the administration toward more hawkish positions than she said voters expected. She suggested Graham’s late-term push to end the Iran conflict was driven by concern over midterm election fallout rather than a genuine change in position.

Greene left the Republican Party earlier in the year over disagreements on Israel policy and the handling of Epstein-related files. She had criticized Graham’s foreign policy views before his death as well, including his past comments on Israel’s military capacity in Gaza.

Conservative outlet Townhall separately noted that Graham had long drawn criticism from within his own party. Critics have pointed to his consistent support for military intervention and his 2013 push for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.