Gov. Henry McMaster named Darline Graham, sister of the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, to serve in the U.S. Senate until January 2027, according to the Office of the Governor.
Based on a release from Office of the Governor.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Governor Henry McMaster on July 13 announced the appointment of Darline Graham to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy created by the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, according to the Office of the Governor.
Darline Graham will be the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate, according to the governor’s office.
“Today, under the law, it is my duty and honor to name someone to serve in the place of this extraordinary man for the remainder of his term. It is my honor to ask his little sister, Darline, to finish his work,” McMaster said.
Darline Graham, a native of Central, S.C., has served since 2019 as Commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, where she has worked to expand employment and independence opportunities for South Carolinians who are blind or have low vision, according to the governor’s office. She previously held roles with Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, and the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, and has served the state for nearly 30 years.
She also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and is president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, and is a Certified Public Manager, according to the governor’s office. She lives in Lexington, S.C., with her husband and children.
“It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard every day over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States,” Darline Graham said.
Under Section 7-19-20 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, the governor is authorized to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy by appointment until a successor is elected, according to the governor’s office. Graham will serve until January 3, 2027, when the new Congress convenes following the November 2026 general election.
Because Lindsey Graham was the South Carolina Republican Party’s nominee for the 2026 U.S. Senate election, state law allows the party to hold a special primary to nominate a replacement candidate, according to the governor’s office. Filing for the special primary will run from July 21 through July 28, 2026. The special primary will be held August 11, with a runoff, if necessary, on August 25. The general election will proceed as scheduled on November 3, 2026.
Lindsey Graham represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate from 2003 to 2026. He previously represented South Carolina’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 and was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, according to the governor’s office.
