It often happens that, when a member of Congress dies and an interim appointment is needed, a relative fills the position for a while. That’s what’s happening here:

Former U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, will serve as interim U.S. senator to finish his term following his death.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster made the appointment Monday, one day after Graham died. …

Graham became Nordone’s legal guardian after their parents died and later adopted her when she was 13 years old.

Before her appointment, Nordone worked with the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department and has served as Commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind since 2019.

Nordone, a resident of Lexington, serves on the SC State Workforce Development Board and is the president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the College of Charleston, a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling, and is a Certified Public Manager.

She sounds like a very capable person, and they were extremely close. She sometimes helped him on the campaign trail.

This appointment also has the advantage of filling the position for the next few months with someone who is likely (although not certain) to lack permanent political ambitions. Since the election is in November, it should give room to others to campaign in a special election primary that will be held in mid-August.

Here’s her statement: