New Delhi, July 14 -- Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, has been appointed to temporarily fill his US Senate seat, becoming the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced Nordone's appointment at a Statehouse news conference on Monday, saying she will serve the remainder of Graham's current term, which expires in January.

Nordone is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday.

"It is such an honor," Nordone said after the announcement. "Lindsey has always been there for me. And now, I will be there for him."

Nordone's appointment comes just days after Graham died at the age of 71 following an aortic dissection caused by chronic heart dise...