this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2026
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The sister of US Senator Lindsey Graham will serve as his temporary replacement after the South Carolina lawmaker died from an aortic tear on Saturday.

Darline Graham Nordone was formally chosen by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Monday, who introduced her as Graham's "little sister" who would "finish his work for him now".

"It is such an honour. Lindsey has always been there for me and now I will be there for him," Nordone said.
The announcement came after officials including President Donald Trump calling for Nordone to serve as his replacement in a "tribute" to the senator, who never married and had no children.

Graham was close with his sister, who he legally adopted after their parents died while they were young.
McMaster said she would serve out the remainder of Graham's term, which is set to end in 2027.

"Lindsey took care of his little sister," McMaster said. "It's my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to finish his work for him now."

Nordone said she believed "this is what Lindsey would have wanted and I plan to honour him in this way".

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[–] sunsofold@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 day ago

If we're going to do this 'democracy' thing, we need a law that says once you hold public office, anyone a single step away from you in your family tree is barred from holding office. We have enough qualified people we should not have anything that even smells like a dynasty.

[–] Waterpumpee@lemmus.org 257 points 2 days ago (5 children)

So political offices are inherited now like its some medieval lordship?

[–] MimicJar@lemmy.world 31 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Now? It's a common practice. It's called "Widow's succession". In this case it is Lindsey's sister, but the spirit is the same.

Usually it is someone to just finish out the current term (not running in the election) or until a special election can take place.

[–] brendansimms@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

after reviewing the wikipedia, it seems that there's usually a special election held - not just an appointment made.

[–] UnrepentantAlgebra@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Hmm "widow's succession" but Graham never married, this is Graham's sister, and they live in the deep south. This would raise a lot more questions if Graham wasn't openly secretly gay.

[–] MimicJar@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I mean Graham and his sister have a tragic backstory, so I don't think it would raise many questions.

As best I can tell this is the first case of a sibling taking over. There are also fewer recent examples than I thought. I assumed a "window succession" was fairly standard, but it seems it's been 25+ years since it happened last (in the US Senate).

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[–] Rothe@piefed.social 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It is common in some commonwealth countries and in countries where their political system is largely based on the UK and its archaic institutions. So UK, Ireland, US and a bunch of ex-colonies and Japan (who adopted a largely US-inspired constitution after WWII).

So common practice within a select group of countries. It is pretty bizarre from the viewpoint of someone not from any of those countries.

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[–] Fandangalo@lemmy.world 29 points 2 days ago

In that state, this is by the rules. Stupid AF, if you ask me.

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[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 53 points 2 days ago (2 children)

"chosen" as replacement? Who the fuck chose? It definitely wasn't the American public.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 18 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Nice "democracy" yous got there....

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No. It says who chose.

[–] skozzii@lemmy.ca 68 points 2 days ago (2 children)

So is this them trying to normalize family succession so Trump can simply appoint his family in the future, and have some sort of precedent to refer to?

[–] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Did you read the end of the article? It mentions that it's been done over 40 times in Congress, but with spouses, not siblings

[–] Rothe@piefed.social 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

That doesn't make it less bizarre and non-democratic.

[–] AdolfSchmitler@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Oh, well if it had only been done 39 times then we'd have a serious problem but I guess that arbitrary number makes it ok

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)
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[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 31 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Trump is reading this and thinking

"Does this mean I can just quit and pass the office down to my sons?"

And he'll fucking try it.

[–] Catma@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Not a snowball chance in Hades he tries it. Trump is if nothing more a complete narcissist.

Stepping down after his "bigly" win in 2024 would be seen as failing, and he cannot fail. He can only be failed. I do not think if he makes it to 2028 he is leaving in anything short of handcuffs or a body bag.

[–] zebidiah@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

and there is exactly 0% chance he will leave in handcuffs.....

[–] BigPotato@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Hey, be the change you want to see in the world. The odds are near zero but they're not zero.

[–] anarchy79@lemmy.world 54 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Ah yes, this is how democracy works!

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 11 points 2 days ago

Long live the quee...whait what? Public offices are not passed down to the younger generation!!!!! It's a public office! It's not like being president.... just Kennedys, trumps, bushes and Clinton's!

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 63 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Does the US not have special elections?

You guys are just full on monarchy now?

[–] cowfodder@lemmy.zip 39 points 2 days ago (6 children)

Depends on the state. South Carolina law just has the governor appoint a replacement for the rest of the term.

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[–] kurmudgeon@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

South Carolina is fundamentally a very corrupt state from the highest to the lowest levels. Just look at the Murdaugh family. How the fuck does a family have that much power and influence over a community in the 21st century? So the governor just appointing the next senator doesn't surprise me in the slightest. They don't raise the brightest in South Carolina, that's for sure.

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[–] WanderWisley@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago

Ah yes the ol royal succession I see here…

[–] xenomor@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago

Is his little sister also a self-loathing hypocrite that desperate to kill, displace and impoverish as many people as possible?

Does she have the ladybugs too?

[–] Steve@startrek.website 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I was sure this was satire

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[–] KulunkelBoom@lemmus.org 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

So who's replacing the dead turtle?

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And let me guess, he was hardcore anti-DEI aka Didn't Earn It, yet his little sister is handed the job despite numerous other better qualified individuals

[–] santa@sh.itjust.works 15 points 2 days ago (4 children)
[–] runner_g@piefed.blahaj.zone 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If he was over 18 and she was under 18 when their parents' died, then it would make sense. You don't want to see your younger sibling get whisked away into foster care if you can be the caregiver.

[–] ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago

That's exactly what happened. She was in her early teens and he was in college when both their parents died, within like a year or two of each other. He became her guardian and then later, when he was in the military, he officially adopted her so that she would receive his military benefits.

They've both talked about it, especially for that five minutes in 2016 when he was making a run at the Republican nomination for president himself. Of all the nefarious shit Lindsey Graham has done, this is not it.

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[–] its_kim_love@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I just feel bad for all those gay men he was paying to have sex with. Now what will they do?

[–] lIlIlIlIlIlIl@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Spill that tea is what they’ll do. Book some poscasts

[–] TheCriticalMember@aussie.zone 7 points 2 days ago

POScasts. Excellent typo.

[–] desmosthenes@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

fucking nepotism man; whatever happened to “merit”

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[–] Maiq@piefed.social 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

First presser and it's just Lindsey in a miniskirt, heels and pigtails.

[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 8 points 2 days ago

It was too short notice to replace the “Lady Graham” monogram on his desk so they went with the easy option.

[–] GutterRat42@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Is she also in the closet?

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What in tarnation

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