Darline Graham Nordone was sworn in Tuesday afternoon to finish the Senate time period of her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
Nordone, who was appointed by South Carolina Republican Gov. Henry McMaster simply days after Graham’s sudden loss of life, took the oath of workplace throughout a swearing-in ceremony presided over by Senate president professional tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).
The 62-year-old spouse, mom of two, and grandmother will serve out the remaining six months of her late brother’s time period. She turns into the primary girl to characterize South Carolina within the US Senate.
“It’s such a privilege to get to complete a few of his vital work, and I promise to work exhausting over the subsequent a number of months to help the president and carry ahead the efforts of my brother on behalf of the residents of South Carolina and the USA,” Nordone stated at a press convention Monday.
Whereas she has by no means held elected public workplace, Nardone has “devoted her profession to public service,” McMaster’s workplace stated in a assertion.
Since 2019, Nardone has served as Commissioner of the South Carolina Fee for the Blind [SCCB], the place she “has labored to develop alternatives for South Carolinians who’re blind or have low imaginative and prescient to realize employment and independence,” in keeping with the governor’s workplace.
A state database of public workers confirms Nardone was the “company head” of the fee and earned a wage of $138,000 – a bit lower than the $174,000 per yr she’ll make as a US senator.
Previous to her appointment as commissioner, Nardone held roles with Clemson College, the South Carolina Division of Employment and Workforce and the South Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for practically 30 years, in keeping with the governor’s workplace.
“Along with her full-time function as SCCB Commissioner, Ms. Graham at present serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Improvement Board and is president-elect of the Nationwide Council of State Companies for the Blind,” the assertion continued.
Nardone has a bachelor’s diploma from the Faculty of Charleston, a grasp’s diploma in rehabilitation counseling and he or she is a Licensed Public Supervisor.
President Trump and a number of other South Carolina GOP lawmakers had backed Nardone to take up her brother’s mantle previous to McMaster’s announcement Monday.
“I advisable, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s fantastic sister, Darline, to function interim Senator from the Nice State of South Carolina,” Trump wrote on Fact Social. “This may be a superb tribute to Lindsey, who beloved her dearly!”
Congress has an extended historical past of members of the family stepping up beneath tragic circumstances to succeed their family members in workplace.
There have been eight circumstances of widows changing their husbands within the Senate and 39 cases within the Home, in keeping with the Heart for American Ladies and Politics at Rutgers College.
The latest instance within the Senate got here in 2001, when Jean Carnahan was appointed after her husband, Mel, was posthumously elected three weeks after he died in a airplane crash. Carnahan served till a particular election was held the next yr.
Nordone will serve till Jan. 3, 2027, when the brand new Congress convenes following the November midterm elections.
The South Carolina Republican Social gathering will maintain a particular main election on Aug. 11 to exchange Graham on the November poll.
Graham, who by no means married or had kids, died abruptly Saturday night after struggling a tear within the aorta. He was 71 years previous.
Preliminary findings from the Washington, DC, medical expert’s workplace decided that the ruptured aorta was introduced on by continual coronary heart illness.
