Lindsey Graham’s Sister Should Replace Him, Trump Says

• July 13, 2026

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) holds up a hat that reads "Trump 2028" during an event at the Kennedy Center on August 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., holds up a hat that reads “Trump 2028” during an event at the Kennedy Center on Aug. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump on Monday urged South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to appoint the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to serve as the state’s interim U.S. senator.

The recommendation came two days after Graham died following heart complications.

“I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina. This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

McMaster is expected to announce Graham’s replacement at 4 p.m. Eastern on Monday.

Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said former Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., would be a strong choice.

“Trey Gowdy would be a fantastic placeholder, but certainly there are other names in the mix,” Scott told CNN on Monday. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Trey would serve well.”

Whoever is appointed will serve until the winner of November’s general election assumes office on Jan. 3, 2027. The seat is expected to remain in Republican hands.

The state will hold a special primary Aug. 11 to determine who will replace Graham as the GOP nominee in November and face Democrat Annie Andrews. If no candidate gets a majority of the votes, a runoff will take place two weeks later on Aug. 25.

Potential Republican candidates could include Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Rep. Ralph Norman, and Rep. Nancy Mace, all of whom were unsuccessful in South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial primary and have been floated as possible contenders.

Pedro Rodriguez | Journalism Fellow

Pedro Boccalato Rodriguez-Aparicio is a journalism fellow at the Daily Signal.

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