Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Darline Graham Nordone joins the Senate

Darline Graham Nordone was sworn in as the junior senator from South Carolina on Tuesday, three days after her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, died suddenly from an aortic dissection.

The younger sister of Graham, 71, by nine years, Graham Nordone’s swearing-in as the junior senator from South Carolina, was conducted by Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Senate’s president pro tempore, at a well-attended ceremony Tuesday on the Senate floor.

Her oath of office capped off a whirlwind few days that caught Washington completely by surprise and left members of the upper chamber of Congress mourning one of their colleagues.

Her brother’s death, which occurred late Saturday evening, was announced just after 2 a.m. on Sunday.

The shock of his passing ripped through Washington, where Graham’s bipartisan nature led him to often form enduring friendships and carry on negotiations with members in both parties.

As a result, Tuesday’s event in the Senate was attended by more than a dozen Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a show of respect for the late senator.

A number of members gathered to offer Graham Nordone their condolences and well wishes after she took the oath.

Graham's Democratic colleague from South Carolina, Rep. James Clyburn, was spotted chatting with a few Republicans, including Sen. Roger Wicker and Chuck Grassley, before leaving the Senate floor.

As Grassley read out the nomination, a teary-eyed John Barasso, the Senate majority whip, stood by Senate Majority Leader John Thune in the front row.

But as Inside Washington readers know, it's not all roses.

The newest senator in Washington walks into a GOP caucus divided over support for the president and adherence to the traditions of Capitol Hill, and one torn apart internally by election-year dynamics that have placed leadership at odds with the president more than once.

Read more here. 

By John Bowden

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