1 of 5 | Newly sworn-in Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., participates in a ceremonial swearing in ceremony with Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and her husband, Larry Nordone, in the Old Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
July 22 (UPI) -- The death of Sen. Lindsey Graham is the sixth in the 119th Congressional term, bringing the total number of lawmakers needing to be replaced during their term to 13.
President Donald Trump's choice to succeed Graham, the late Senator's sister Darline Graham Nordone, will serve in an honorary capacity until a new South Carolina Senator is elected to a full term on Nov. 3. Trump's endorsement is just that -- an endorsement. The president plays no official role in choosing lawmakers to replace those who have left office in the midst of their term either by resigning or by death.
"Certainly the president has taken a very strong interest in the South Carolina Senate seat," Meena Bose, dean of Hofstra University's public policy program and director of presidential studies, told UPI. "The Republican Party has a majority of three in the Senate, including Sen. Graham's seat. A margin of three is harder to overcome in the Senate than in the House because there are fewer seats that are competitive. Party control of both chambers is definitely very competitive for November."
