404. The Appointment

Senator Lindsey Graham served in the United States Senate for more than thirty years, representing South Carolina beginning in 2003. He died recently. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has appointed his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve the remainder of his Senate term. She is now a senator. This is how Senate vacancies work when a senator dies before their term ends.

The United States Constitution and relevant federal law provide for governors to appoint replacement senators when a vacancy occurs. The governor of South Carolina used this provision. He selected Darline Graham Nordone from among the pool of eligible South Carolinians. She is Lindsey Graham's sister. The Senate seat previously held by Lindsey Graham is now held by a Graham. It was previously held by a Graham. The name on the relevant paperwork has not changed.

(A separate item arrived in the same news cycle: Lindsey Graham had among the lowest personal wealth of any member of Congress, per reporting by the New York Post. He had served in federal government for more than thirty years, the majority of his adult working life. Federal public service is not compensated at private-sector rates. Senator Graham's financial disclosures indicated that he had spent three decades in the Senate and arrived at the financial position of someone who had done that. This is one outcome of spending three decades in public service. It is the documented outcome in his case.)

Darline Graham Nordone had not previously served in the United States Senate. She is now serving in the United States Senate. The position was not subject to a popular vote in this instance. It was subject to the governor's judgment. The governor judged. The appointment was made. Darline Graham Nordone is Senator Graham Nordone. Her brother was Senator Graham. South Carolina continues to have a Senator Graham, which is unchanged from the previous arrangement except for the first name.

The appointment is temporary. An election will be held at a future date to determine who holds the seat on an ongoing basis. Until then, the Senate will continue to include a Senator Graham from South Carolina, as it has for some time. The senator in that seat is new. The name is the same. The desk is presumably the same desk.