How Lindsey Graham’s death quickly changes a busy Senate: From the Politics Desk

From the Politics DeskHow Lindsey Graham’s death quickly changes a busy Senate: From the Politics DeskPlus, the latest on the war with Iran.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00The U.S. Capitol Building on July 1.Kevin Carter / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 13, 2026, 6:20 PM EDTBy The Politics DeskWelcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.In today’s edition, senior national political reporter Sahil Kapur digs into how Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death will change the Senate. Plus, the latest on the Iran war, with the U.S. and Iran locked in a struggle over the Strait of Hormuz.Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Scott BlandSouth Carolina governor appoints Lindsey Graham’s sister to finish his Senate termBy Rebecca ShabadSouth Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone, Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister, to serve the rest of the late Republican senator’s term, which ends in early January.“Today, under the law, it’s my duty to and honor to name someone to serve in the place of this irresistible man, this irreplaceable man, this extraordinary man, for the remainder of his term,” McMaster, a Republican, said at a news conference alongside Graham’s sister.“Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed. It’s my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham, to finish his work for him now,” he said.Graham Nordone thanked McMaster for selecting her. “It is such an honor,” she said. “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him.”When she’s sworn in, Graham Nordone will become South Carolina’s first female senator.Graham Nordone will finish her brother’s six-year term, which ends Jan. 3. Graham died Saturday at age 71 of...