Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told Newsmax on Monday that the naming of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's sister to temporarily fill the South Carolina Republican's seat will likely end up being just that.
On "The Record With Greta Van Susteren," Meadows said there is little chance that Darline Graham Nordone will seek a full term of her own.
"I would think that [South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster] was probably looking at convincing her to do something on a temporary basis," Meadows said.
McMaster on Monday named Graham's sister as her brother's temporary replacement in the Senate after Graham's death Saturday evening.
Meadows said Graham's sister is looking at "a six-month sprint to the end until Jan. 3, when someone else will obviously run and get sworn in."
The timing may be a lot shorter, he said.
"It's probably more like six weeks, Greta. It's six weeks, and six key votes that she'll have to take," Meadows said.
He added that Graham's staff remains in place and will help guide the state's new senator through the process.
Meadows said he was still somewhat startled by the announcement on Sunday of Graham's death at age 71.
"But we're not promised tomorrow, and yet his sister will carry on that legacy. Probably the other interesting thing will be who queues up to actually file next week. So, you'll see a mad sprint toward the middle of August when [Graham's] name will be replaced on the ballot by whomever gets the confidence of the South Carolina people," Meadows said.
A person familiar with the appointment process but not authorized to speak about it publicly said Graham Nordone would be sworn in Wednesday. She will be the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate.
"It is such an honor," she said. "Lindsey has always been there for me. And now, I will be there for him."
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