Some members of the right reacted negatively to news that the sister of the late Lindsey Graham intends to run for his seat, calling it “birthright senatorship.”
After Sen. Graham died on July 11, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster assigned the deceased senator’s previously apolitical sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily serve in his seat until reelection.
But on Monday, Nordone announced during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” that she intends to run to permanently replace her brother.
It’s official. I’m running to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate. 🇺🇸
Today, I’m stepping forward to carry my brother Lindsey’s legacy on behalf of the people of South Carolina.
President Trump told me, “Run, Darline, Run.” With his support, I’m running all the… pic.twitter.com/2k9CVOJJuc
— Darline Graham (@DarlineGrahamSC) July 20, 2026
“He’s worked so hard for so long,” she said of her brother. “I can’t just let that die. I’ve got to step in and carry on his legacy.”
“I know he cared about the people of South Carolina so deeply. He worked so hard for them. And I feel like I can do that, too. He taught me well,” she added.
Her remarks set off a firestorm of backlash from figures on the right and left, including from former Republican Rep. Bob Good, who served as chair of the House Freedom Caucus. Good posted a message Monday afternoon insinuating that Nordone is a “swamp creature”:
Trump continues to fill the Swamp with the worst congressional creatures, including his predictable endorsement of Darline Graham. Are there worse criteria than 1) family name, and 2) pledged unconditional and unconstitutional allegiance and obedience to the president?
— Bob Good (@RepBobGood) July 20, 2026
Other right-wing figures glommed onto the left-wing talking point that Nordone “has no qualifications to be a senator.”
“What qualifications does Darline Graham have?” former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis asked on X. “Say no to nepotism and entitlement, South Carolina.”
One right-winger attacked President Donald Trump for Nordone’s decision, specifically blaming Trump’s decision over the weekend to endorse her as a permanent replacement for Graham.
“Donald Trump once again stabbed South Carolina Republicans in the back by pretending Darline Graham Nordone was just his interim Senate choice,” the critic wrote. “He got all potential GOP candidates behind it and now he says he wants her to run for a full term. What are her actual qualifications?”
It doesn’t help that PBS News, a leftist network, has been singing her praises:
PBS is soft endorsing Darline Graham Nordone for U.S. Senate. That tells me everything I need to know. 🥴 https://t.co/z4wEeHZRlv
— Kelly McCarty (@KellyLMcCarty) July 20, 2026
So what are her qualifications?
According to Sen. Tom Cotton, she’s a “principled conservative leader and a strong advocate for South Carolina families.”
And according to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, she spent “years leading the South Carolina Commission for the Blind” and had “previous roles at the Department of Employment and Workforce and Clemson University.”
“[S]he has dedicated her career to public service,” Wilson added in a post shared to X. “Most importantly, she shares Lindsey’s heart for South Carolina–I know she’ll make our state proud finishing his term.”
Fox News further notes that she has said that, unlike her brother, she intends to focus on domestic issues rather than foreign policy concerns.
Some on the left also attached Nordone, including commentator and journalist Glenn Greenwald.
“It didn’t take Lindsey Graham’s sister very long to go from ‘thank you for this placeholder appointment to honor my brother until an election can be held’ to ‘you know what? I kind of like sitting in this Senate seat. Like a lot. I think I’ll stay for life, like my brother did,'” he tweeted.
However, her defenders fired back by pointing out that she isn’t automatically guaranteed the seat — that she’ll have to earn it.
And? If she gets elected what is wrong with that? Is there something we should worry about?
— jafaralkafar (@jafaralkafar) July 20, 2026
It’s not like it’s going to be given to her. She’ll still have to win an election.
Deep breaths, Glenn.
— Soloman (@solo_pico) July 20, 2026
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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