Darline Graham, the sister of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, was sworn in on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, to fill his Senate seat just three days after his sudden death. She was appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to serve the remainder of her brother’s current term, which ends on January 3, 2027.

Graham arrived at the Senate chamber accompanied by Republican Senators Tim Scott and Katie Britt. Senator Chuck Grassley administered the oath of office, where she pledged to “support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Upon her swearing-in, Graham made history as the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate.

Governor McMaster said at a press conference in Columbia, South Carolina, on Monday, “Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed. It’s my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham, to finish his work for him now.”

Darline Graham, 62, expressed that the appointment was an “honor.” She said, “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now, I will be there for him.” She promised to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward her brother’s efforts on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States.

Before her appointment, Graham had served since 2019 as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. She was appointed with the backing of Donald Trump.

Lindsey Graham had been seeking a fifth Senate term at the time of his death, having won the Republican nomination the previous month. The South Carolina GOP will hold a special election on August 11, 2026, to choose a new Senate nominee who will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the November midterms.

Darline Graham’s personal history with her brother is notable: when Lindsey Graham was in college, their parents died just over a year apart, leaving Darline, then 13, an orphan. Lindsey Graham became her legal guardian and later adopted her so she could receive benefits through his service as an Air Force lawyer.

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