South Carolina governor names Lindsey Graham's sister interim senator

• South Carolina governor appoints Lindsey Graham's sister to fill Senate seat temporarily

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Monday appointed Darlene Graham Nordone, the younger sister of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, to temporarily fill his vacant US Senate seat, hours after President Donald Trump publicly urged the governor to select her.

Nordone will serve in the Senate until the current term expires in January, ensuring the seat remains filled while the state prepares for a special election.

"It is my honor to ask Lindsey's younger sister, Darlene Graham, to continue his work," McMaster said while announcing the appointment.

Accepting the role, Nordone paid tribute to her brother's legacy.

"Lindsey was always there for me, and now I'll be there for him," she said. "My brother was an extraordinary person, an exceptional leader, and a genuinely kind human being."

Earlier on Monday, Trump endorsed Nordone for the position, saying her appointment would be "a wonderful tribute to Lindsey, who loved her very much."

Graham, who died last week at the age of 71, was one of the Republican Party's most influential voices on foreign policy and a close ally of Trump.

He never married and had no children, but shared a close bond with his younger sister. Their mother died when Graham was 20 and Nordone was 12. Less than two years later, their father died of a heart attack. At the age of 22, Graham legally adopted his sister and played a central role in raising her.

Nordone's appointment is temporary. South Carolina has scheduled a special Republican primary on August 11 to choose the party's nominee for the November special election, with the winner set to serve a full six-year Senate term beginning in January.