Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, will fill his Senate seat through the end of his term in January, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster announced Monday. 

“Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed,” McMaster said at a news conference in Columbia, referring to Graham becoming his then teenage sister’s legal guardian after their parents died within 15 months of each other. “It’s my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham, to finish his work for him now.”

The late senator, a close ally of President Donald Trump, died Saturday evening from a tear in his aorta, according to a preliminary medical examiner report shared by his office. 

“As I think everyone would agree, Lindsey worked harder than anyone. He worked nonstop to make our state, country and world better.,” Nordone said at Monday’s news conference. “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.”

“I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way,” she added.

Earlier Monday, Trump had urged McMaster to pick Nordone as her brother’s successor, a move cheered by several Senate Republicans, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who stood by Nordone’s side in Columbia on Monday.

“This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Nordone could be sworn in as early as Wednesday, according to Senate Republican staff. 

First elected to the Senate in 2002 after four terms in the House, Graham had been running for reelection to the Senate and clinched the Republican nomination last month. Under South Carolina state law, his replacement on the ballot will be determined by an Aug. 11 special primary election, with a runoff between the top two finishers scheduled for Aug. 25 if no one receives a majority of the vote.

Several South Carolina Republicans could seek the nomination for a full term, potentially setting up a crowded field for the special primary election. Rep. Nancy Mace, who lost a gubernatorial primary last month, has hinted that she could enter the race, while other potential candidates include Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Rep. Ralph Norman, who also made unsuccessful runs for governor. Mark Lynch, who challenged Graham in last month’s primary, has also said he would run again. 

The eventual Republican nominee will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November.  

A mother of two, Nordone has worked with people with disabilities and helped them to find jobs. She has not previously held elected office, but has appeared alongside her brother in his campaigns, introducing him when he launched a presidential bid in 2015. 

During that campaign, the unmarried Graham floated his sister’s name when asked who his first lady would be if he was elected president. 

‘Well, I’ve got a sister, she could play that role if necessary,” he told The Daily Mail. 

Savannah Behrmann contributed to this report.