Beneath the Capitol dome, Senator Darline Graham stood behind her late brother’s casket on Tuesday as his colleagues in Washington paid tribute to the South Carolina Republican.
For the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who died at 71 this month without ever marrying, his sister was the closest thing he had to a political spouse. As world leaders and politicians gathered in Washington to honor him, all eyes were on the somber Ms. Graham, who was grieving publicly while juggling her new roles as her brother’s interim replacement and a candidate in a crowded Republican primary to succeed him.
Ms. Graham maintained her composure as officials memorialized her brother, occasionally dabbing her eyes with a tissue while his Republican colleagues shared stories of the longtime senator’s larger-than-life personality.
It was not until Ms. Graham approached her brother’s casket in the Capitol Rotunda that tears began to trickle down her cheeks.
Ms. Graham placed her palm on the flag-draped coffin, her eyes welling up as she reached out to touch it.
Tapped by Gov. Henry McMaster days after her brother’s passing to serve as the interim Republican South Carolina senator, Ms. Graham now has President Trump’s endorsement in the race to succeed him in the Senate. Mr. Graham died suddenly this month from what officials have preliminarily identified as an aortic tear.
She has told friends that she is campaigning for the seat not out of personal ambition, but rather out of a desire to honor Mr. Graham, who became her legal guardian as a child after their parents died.
Nevertheless, Tuesday’s back-to-back events on Capitol Hill and at the National Cathedral honoring the late senator reflected the reality that Ms. Graham now faces as she holds public office for the first time and dives headlong into the crowded race for his seat while simultaneously mourning her brother’s sudden death.
As Vice President JD Vance and other Republicans eulogized Mr. Graham at the Capitol, they at times spoke directly to his sister, who had been his frequent companion at public gatherings throughout his long political career.
Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota and the majority leader, offered condolences to Ms. Graham and her family before turning toward the coffin and saying, through tears, “I look forward to the days when you make us all laugh again.”
In a prayer for the Graham family, Representative Sheri Biggs, Republican of South Carolina, asked that “God continue to show each of us grace that we do not deserve.”
As Ms. Biggs left the podium, Ms. Graham grabbed a cross pendant dangling from her necklace and nodded.
Mr. Graham’s sudden death has set in motion a rapid primary to succeed him, in which Ms. Graham is one of nine Republicans vying for their party’s nomination.
In the interim, Ms. Graham was appointed to fill her brother’s seat through the remainder of his term, which ends in January.
On Tuesday, Ms. Graham listened to stories of her brother’s legacy on Capitol Hill, where he had gained a reputation for being a skilled debater, a backroom negotiator, and a wisecracking character.
“He could be the person you argued with and fought with in one minute, but behind the scenes, without collecting an ounce of credit, he was working for you,” Mr. Vance said.
Ms. Graham looked up at the vice president and smiled slightly before turning to the casket and appearing to sigh.
