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Darline Graham Nordone was officially sworn into the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, stepping into the seat once held by her late brother, Lindsey Graham, and pledging to continue the work he championed on behalf of South Carolina and the nation.

Nordone took the oath of office just one day after being appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who selected her Monday to fill the vacancy created by Graham’s unexpected death two days earlier. Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley of Iowa administered the oath during Tuesday’s ceremony.

At 62, Nordone becomes the first woman ever to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. Her temporary appointment will last until Jan. 3, 2027, when the winner of the special election officially takes office.

Speaking after her appointment was announced Monday, Nordone reflected on the opportunity before her.

“It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States,” Nordone said at a press conference Monday after her appointment was announced.

Although she has never previously served in elected office, Gov. McMaster’s office emphasized that Nordone brings decades of experience in public service.

Since 2019, she has led the South Carolina Commission for the Blind as commissioner, where, according to the governor’s office, she “has worked to expand opportunities for South Carolinians who are blind or have low vision to achieve employment and independence.”

State employment records identify Nordone as the agency’s chief executive, with an annual salary of approximately $138,000. As a U.S. senator, her prorated annual salary will be about $174,000.

Before taking over the Commission for the Blind, Nordone spent nearly three decades serving in various public-sector positions, including roles with Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, and the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

McMaster’s office also highlighted her additional leadership positions, stating, “In addition to her full-time role as SCCB Commissioner, Ms. Graham currently serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and is president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind,” the McMaster statement continued.

Nordone earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. She is also a Certified Public Manager.

Before McMaster made his decision, President Donald Trump and several South Carolina Republican lawmakers publicly endorsed Nordone as the best choice to temporarily succeed her brother.

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

Her appointment follows a well-established pattern in American politics, where close relatives have occasionally been chosen to fill congressional vacancies after the deaths of family members.

According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, eight widows have been appointed to replace their late husbands in the U.S. Senate, while the House of Representatives has seen 39 similar successions.

One of the most notable examples occurred in 2001, when Jean Carnahan was appointed to Missouri’s Senate seat after her husband, Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan, won election posthumously three weeks after he was killed in a plane crash.

Jean Carnahan later lost the seat in a 2002 special election to Republican Jim Talent.

South Carolina Republicans are scheduled to hold a special primary on Aug. 11 to determine the party’s nominee for the November election to permanently fill Graham’s Senate seat.

Lindsey Graham, who never married and had no children, died suddenly Saturday evening after suffering a tear in his aorta. He was 71.

Preliminary findings from the Washington, D.C., medical examiner concluded that the fatal rupture resulted from chronic heart disease.

As many as 50,000 airline tickets could be canceled during July after the United States halted the evacuation of its refueling aircraft currently stationed at Ben-Gurion Airport, prompting Israeli aviation officials to warn of significant disruptions to airport operations, The Jerusalem Post reports.

Israel Airports Authority Director-General Sharon Kedmi issued a letter expressing alarm over the American decision, warning that the continued presence of the military aircraft could have an immediate impact on civilian aviation. “This delay has immediate and serious operational consequences,” he stated.

Transportation Ministry Director-General Moshe Ben Zaken said additional U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft would not be allowed to land at Ben-Gurion Airport. According to reports, Israeli air traffic controllers have also been instructed not to authorize the landing of any further American refueling planes.

Emphasizing the need to protect commercial air travel, Ben Zaken said, “Citizens cannot be harmed; the Defense Ministry must find solutions.”

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the freeze remains in effect despite growing concerns raised by Israeli officials.

At the same time, N12 reported that four additional American refueling aircraft recently landed at Ben-Gurion Airport after arriving from Gulf states that have recently come under Iranian attack.

Later Tuesday, additional reports indicated that another U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft had arrived in Israel.

Responding to those reports, Israel’s Transportation Ministry clarified that the latest aircraft was not remaining at the airport. “The refueling aircraft that landed at Ben Gurion Airport in the last few minutes landed for refueling purposes only and not for parking purposes, precisely and in accordance with the instructions of the Transport Minister,” the ministry said.

{Matzav.com}