By Joseph De Avila and Alyssa Lukpat

Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, was selected by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to finish out her brother's term in the Senate.

Earlier, President Trump backed her for the role, saying it would be a fitting tribute to her brother, who died Saturday at the age of 71. The senator was very close to his sister and became her legal guardian.

She told the governor on Sunday morning that she would agree to complete Graham's term, which ends in early January.

"I think this is what Lindsey would've wanted," she said at a news briefing Monday.

Here is what to know about the 62-year-old.

Her parents died when she was a teen.

After her mother died from cancer and their father died from a heart attack, Darline Graham went to live with an aunt and uncle. Her brother was 22 years old and in college at the time, and Graham was 13. Lindsey Graham would come home from college and would continue to care for his sister.

"Lindsey wrapped his arms around me and promised that he would always be there for me," Graham said in 2015 when her brother was running for president. "I can assure you, he's done that."

Her brother adopted her.

Lindsey Graham later adopted his sister and became her legal guardian. She said he adopted her to share his military benefits.

"At first the idea was a little odd but I was like, 'No, it makes perfect sense,' and I just trusted his judgment so I knew he was doing what he could to take care of me and it was best for us," she told CNN in 2015.

They remained close throughout his life.

During his presidential run, Lindsey Graham spoke about how proud he was of his sister. "Of all the things that have happened in my life, her turning out so well is the highlight of it, by far," he said in an interview with C-Span in 2015.

He said she became a mother of two daughters. "She's made an incredible life for herself," he said.

She grew up in a 'gregarious environment.'

Her father owned the Sanitary Cafe, which he operated as a bar, restaurant and liquor store in a small mill town. The family lived in a back room of the establishment.

Lindsey Graham described the atmosphere as gregarious. His sister said the patrons were like an extended family.

"They were kind of like our aunts and uncles. And sometimes being young kids and mischievous and stuff, we were almost like the entertainment for them I think," she told CNN.

Still, the bar environment took its toll.

"Even when my parents were alive they worked really long, hard hours running a small business so even then he was a caregiver to me," she told CNN, referring to her brother.

Lindsey Graham said when his parents dropped him off at college, his sister was holding his leg. "We're a close family," he said.

She has never held office.

Her brother, who never married, said jokingly his sister could serve as first lady if he won the presidency in 2016.

Aside from promoting her brother, Graham hasn't spoken much publicly about politics. In her comments Monday, she said, "Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him."

Write to Joseph De Avila at joseph.deavila@wsj.com and Alyssa Lukpat at alyssa.lukpat@wsj.com

Corrections & Amplifications

This article was corrected on July 17, 2026 to show that Darline Graham is 62 years old. The original version incorrectly said that she is 64.