A Sister’s Succession
Darline Graham has been appointed to complete her late brother Lindsey Graham's Senate term and is now running for a full term. Her campaign is notable for her status as a political outsider and her populist approach, which contrasts sharply with her brother's long-standing career.
Why it matters
This unique 'sister's succession' highlights the influence of political legacies and the shifting dynamics within the Republican party.
Thrown into office and an unexpected campaign, Darline Graham is running on her brother’s legacy—but making clear that she’s different.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Peter Zay / Anadolu / Getty; Heather Diehl / Getty. August 25, 2026, 6 AM ET Share Save It’s something that happens so often in politics that there’s a name for it: widow’s succession. Dozens of times over the past century, women have filled a seat previously occupied by their late husband, and some have gone on to serve a long career.
What has never happened in Congress before is what Darline Graham is doing: a sister’s succession.
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