GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death highlights orderly process for filling vacancy

The sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham has handed South Carolina Republicans two immediate tasks: finding an interim replacement and a nominee for the general election.

The first was completed Monday afternoon when Gov. Henry McMaster announced Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, would serve out the remainder of his term.

“Today, under the law, it is my duty to name a replacement,” McMaster said. “It is my honor to ask his little sister, Darline, to take his place.”

The process is a sharp contrast to the scrambling underway in Maine after Democrat Senate candidate Graham Platner withdrew, leaving the state without a Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.

Graham, 71, died Saturday night following what D.C. medical examiners preliminarily described as an aortic tear caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, Fox News reported.

The four-term senator and Budget Committee chairman had just won the June primary with 57% of the vote and was likely headed to a fifth term, according to the Cook Political Report.

President Trump called him “a dear friend of mine, and a truly great man.”

The president later called on McMaster to appoint Graham Nordone to the vacancy on an interim basis, which he said “would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”

The appointment helps Republicans maintain control of the Senate.

The GOP held a 53-47 majority, but with Graham gone and Sen. Mitch McConnell absent after a fall, the party was down to 51 voting senators.

Meanwhile, the Senate’s fall calendar is loaded.

The confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche goes before the Judiciary Committee, and the White House has requested additional defense funding for the Iran war, CNN reported.

Under state law, Graham Nordone will serve until Jan. 3, 2027. 

However, that still leaves a hole on the November general election ballot for the seat.

South Carolina’s process and crowded field

The death of a party nominee is filled through a special primary in South Carolina.

Filing for the newly vacated seat opens July 21 and closes July 28, with the primary on Aug. 11, according to a timeline reported by Newsweek.

A runoff, if needed, would be scheduled Aug. 25.

The nomination must be certified by Oct. 20.

Votes cast for Graham on already printed ballots will count for the new nominee.

The field is forming fast.

Rep. Nancy Mace is strongly considering a run for the seat, The Hill reported, but is coming off a primary loss in the governor’s race, where she received only 12% of the vote.

Still, The Hill reported that she was surveying voters over the weekend to determine whether she’ll enter the race.

Separately, The Hill reported Rep. Ralph Norman, who represents South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, asked Trump for his endorsement in the Senate primary.

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette said she received dozens of calls and texts Sunday urging her into the race, NBC News reported.

One big name is out: A spokesperson said Nikki Haley is not interested, according to Politico reporter Alec Hernández via X.

But another big name didn’t say no.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has fielded calls from others urging him into the race but said he prefers to keep working for the president at Treasury.

The wild card is Trump himself.

The president said Sunday on “Meet the Press” that he had somebody he liked for the general election, but he declined to name names.

“I’m not going to tell you who now because it’s too soon,” he added.

The South Carolina process offers a sharp contrast with the scramble now underway in Maine.

After Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner withdrew from the race, Maine law allows a party committee to select his replacement rather than requiring another statewide primary.

Maine Democrats plan to convene roughly 600 party delegates to choose the candidate who will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.

The Democratic nominee in the South Carolina Senate race, pediatrician Annie Andrews, is running on health care, abortion and gun control.

No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades.

South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since Fritz Hollings won reelection in 1998.

This story has been updated to reflect the appointment of Darline Graham Nordone to serve out the remainder of Graham’s term.

(Image credit: Flickr / Gage Skidmore)