In a poetic and heartwarming gesture, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has officially nominated Darline Graham Nordone as interim U.S. Senator.
Darline is the younger sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
She will now serve the remainder of her brother’s term in the Senate, until South Carolina voters decide in this year’s midterm elections who will fill the seat for the next six years.
Watch the moment Darline accepted the role here:
Whatever your opinion is of Lindsey Graham’s political career, you have to admit that this is an incredibly touching moment.
He and his sister shared a special bond throughout their whole lives.
If you don’t know, Lindsey Graham actually adopted Darline when she was just 12 years old, after their parents sadly passed away.
Earlier today, President Trump threw his support behind the idea of appointing Darline to fill her late brother’s shoes.
AP News reported further:
Graham died on Saturday night at age 71. He never married or had a family of his own, but Nordone was often by her brother’s side for the political touch points of his career, speaking at events and appearing in some of his campaign ads.
After their parents died at a young age, Graham was left to raise his sister, for whom he later became legal guardian. They were very close, and she was there as he filed reelection paperwork earlier this year, along with her children and grandchildren.
“To Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words,” Nordone said, emotion rising in her voice. “But I’m going to do this. I got it.”
Introducing Nordone, McMaster said the two had spoken in “in the wee hours of Sunday morning” after Graham’s death, and he asked her to serve.
“I had wondered what you would say, and I was humbled by your quickness to see the duty that you had to serve,” McMaster said. He added that President Donald Trump “thought it was a great idea” when he later told him of his pick. Trump announced his support for Nardone to fill the seat earlier Monday.
Next month, a special election will be held to decide on a Republican nominee to run for the open Senate seat.
At this time, it remains unclear whether or not Darline Graham Nordone plans on running for a full term.
But, the race is bound to be competitive.
Fox News has more:
Others were in the mix initially, including Lt. Gov. Pam Evette, who Trump endorsed in her failed bid to clinch the GOP nomination for governor, former Rep. Trey Gowdy and former Sen. Jim DeMint, sources told Fox News Digital.
Her appointment fills the seat through Jan. 3, while voters decide in November who will hold the seat for the next six-year term.
At this point, it’s unclear if Nordone would consider running for a full six-year term, and there’s already private jockeying to run in the special election, set for Aug. 11, to secure the GOP nomination in the Palmetto State, with Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., both eyeing a bid
Graham’s death narrowed Republicans’ Senate majority and added pressure to keep every GOP vote available, especially with Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., still being treated after a fall and pneumonia.
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