Darline Graham
American politician (born 1964)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Darline Lettie Graham Nordone[1] (née Darlene Lettie Graham;[a] formerly Darline Graham Boggs,[2] born June 12, 1964) is an American politician and public administrator serving as the junior United States senator from South Carolina, a seat she has held since July 14, 2026. A member of the Republican Party, she was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham. She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate.
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Darline Graham | |
|---|---|
Graham in 2026 | |
| United States Senator from South Carolina | |
| Assumed office July 14, 2026 | |
| Appointed by | Henry McMaster |
| Preceded by | Lindsey Graham |
| Commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind | |
| In office July 11, 2019 – July 14, 2026 | |
| Governor | Henry McMaster |
| Preceded by | James Kirby |
| Succeeded by | Luis Gamarra Mendoza (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Darline Lettie Graham June 12, 1964 Central, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Larry Nordone (m. 2006) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Lindsey Graham (brother) |
| Education | College of Charleston (BS) South Carolina State University (MA) |
| Website | Senate website |
Early life and education
Darlene Lettie Graham[3][4] was born in Central, South Carolina, on June 12, 1964.[5][6][7] Her parents, Florence James "F.J." Graham and Millie Graham (née Walters), operated a restaurant, bar, liquor store, and pool hall, and the family lived in rooms behind the business.[6] Her mother died of cancer when Graham was 11, and her father died from a heart attack 15 months later.[8][9] After their deaths, Graham's brother, Lindsey, arranged for her to live with her aunt and uncle in Seneca, South Carolina. Before joining the Air Force in 1982, Lindsey—who was nine years her senior—became Graham's legal guardian.[10][11] He taught her to spell her first name "Darline", a spelling she continues to use in adulthood.[3]
Graham graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in sociology in 1989.[12] She also earned a Master of Arts in rehabilitation counseling from South Carolina State University in 2009.[13][14]
Career
Public administration
In 2008, Graham began working for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. She helped coordinate a remote work program for adults with severe disabilities for Time Warner.[15] By 2015, she was the department's public information director.[16]
In 2019, Graham became commissioner and agency head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, which administers vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and blindness-prevention programs for South Carolinians who are blind or have low vision.[17] She also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and its SC Works Management Committee. In 2026, she was elected president of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, with her term scheduled to start in January 2027.[12]
Political involvement
In 2002, Graham appeared in a television advertisement for Lindsey's campaign in that year's United States Senate election in South Carolina.[18] She continued to assist in his subsequent campaigns, discussing her childhood during the 2014[11] and 2026 Senate races.[19] Graham supported her brother's campaign for president of the United States in the 2016 election, introducing him in his first campaign speech.[20]
U.S. Senate
Appointment
On July 13, 2026, South Carolina governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham to fill her brother's vacant senate seat,[21] the same day President Donald Trump endorsed her.[22]
Tenure
She was sworn in on July 14.[23] She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate,[24] the first woman to replace her brother in Congress,[25] and the first sibling to replace a deceased senator.[26] Her appointment marks the first time 27 women have served concurrently in the Senate, the highest number in its history.[27] This includes a record high 11 Republican women serving at the same time.[28]
On July 16, Graham introduced legislation to impose sanctions on Russia. The legislation is based on the Sanctioning Russia Act, a bill authored and supported by Lindsey Graham, and has bipartisan support.[29]
2026 election
On July 17, President Trump publicly encouraged Graham to run in the 2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina and promised to endorse her if she did.[30] On July 20, Graham told Sean Hannity that she intends to run for a full term.[31]
Personal life
Graham married Larry Nordone around 2006.[4] They live in Lexington, South Carolina.[32] Graham is a mother of two.[6]
