Following the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster has appointed his younger sister, Darline Graham, to fill his seat for the remainder of his term. This move continues a legacy of family members stepping in to take the reins of power from their kin.
When Darline is sworn in on Tuesday afternoon, she will become the latest example of a U.S. lawmaker sliding into a seat vacated by a deceased family member. This phenomenon has been observed in various instances, with several lawmakers stepping into the roles of their deceased relatives.
Rep. Julia Letlow, a Republican from Louisiana, is a prime example of this trend. After her husband, Luke Letlow, died from COVID-19 complications in December 2020, Julia picked up the torch and won the 2021 special election to fill the House seat.
On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona, was also thrust into the halls of Congress after tragedy struck her loved one. Adelita won a special election for her father's seat, defeating Republican candidate Daniel Butierez Sr. by more than 40,000 votes, according to results published by the Arizona secretary of state.
Former Rep. Erica Lee Carter, a Democrat from Texas, also ascended into Congress as the result of a parent's death. After her mother, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, passed away in 2024, Erica Lee Carter won the special election to complete her mother's term.
Another notable example is the case of Sonny Bono, who was thrust into politics after his death in a skiing accident in 1998. His wife, Mary Bono, ran in a special election to fill his seat and served 15 years in Congress before losing her seat to a Democratic challenger in 2013.
In New Jersey, former Rep. Donald Payne Jr. replaced his father, former Rep. Donald Payne Sr., in Congress. Donald Payne Jr. ran in the special election to replace his father and won, demonstrating another instance of a family member stepping into a deceased relative's role.
When her brother is sworn in, Darline Graham will become the first female U.S. senator in South Carolina history. In her acceptance speech, Darline vowed to return the favor of her brother's lifetime of taking care of her, highlighting the strong bond between the siblings.
