Trump calls for Lindsey Graham’s sister to be named interim senator following his death

Washington.- U.S. President, Donald Trump, recommended this Monday that South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appoint Darline Graham Nordone, sister of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, on an interim basis to fill his vacant Senate seat.

“I recommended to Governor Henry McMaster Darline, the wonderful sister of Lindsey Graham, to fill the interim senator position for the great state of South Carolina. It would be a fantastic tribute to Lindsey, who loved her very much!,” the president wrote on his Truth Social network.

The request comes after the sudden death of Graham, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 71 due to an aortic tear – according to preliminary reports –, which forces Republicans to search against the clock for a replacement for one of their most influential senators ahead of the midterm elections in November.

South Carolina law states that when a seat in the U.S. Senate becomes vacant, it is the governor’s responsibility to appoint a temporary replacement until a special election is held to select, in this case, the Republican candidate who will run in the upcoming legislative elections.

The governor is expected to announce his decision this Monday

Meanwhile, the person appointed by McMaster will complete the remainder of Graham’s term, until the winner of the November election takes office in January for the next six years.

According to local media, the governor of South Carolina plans to announce his decision at a press conference this Monday.

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However, even though Trump has publicly endorsed Nordone, it is unclear whether she would accept the appointment.

Several South Carolina Republicans have already shown interest in running for the seat, including Representatives Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman.

Graham and Nordone were very close. After the death of their parents when she was a minor, Lindsey Graham became her sister’s legal guardian and subsequently adopted her so that she could access the military benefits he received after enlisting in the Air Force.

Nordone used to accompany the senator to campaign events where he even participated to introduce him.

The Republicans’ legislative agenda gets complicated

Meanwhile, Senator Graham’s death complicates the Republican Party’s legislative agenda in the Senate, which resumes activity this Monday after a two-week recess.

To the passing of Graham, one of the president’s main allies, Donald Trump, is added the absence of Senator Mitch McConnell, who remains hospitalized and who stated this Sunday that he still cannot return to his seat.

In this way, the Republicans see their slim majority in the Upper House reduced to 51 seats against the Democrats’ 47.

Until the midterm elections, which will be held on November 3rd and will renew Congress and one-third of the Senate, the Upper House has seven weeks of legislative activity and several prominent bills pending approval.

Pending laws in the Senate

The Senate is considering renewing the surveillance law, a federal law that establishes procedures for the United States government to conduct physical and electronic surveillance and obtain intelligence information from “foreign powers” and their agents, including spies or terrorists.

Also pending is the White House’s request to increase defense spending, not only the annual budget but also the extraordinary supplement with specific items linked to the war in Iran.

Among the pending legislative activity, the agreement that the Capitol must reach to fund the federal government before September 30 stands out, in order to avoid a government shutdown like the one last year that set a record for duration at 43 days.

On the other hand, the Senate also has yet to pass the so-called ‘Save America Act’, the electoral reform that Trump is pushing and which has put him at odds with Republicans because he believes they are not making sufficient efforts to bring it into effect.