US Senator Lindsey Graham dies at 71, leaving Senate vacancy ahead of November elections
US Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died suddenly on Saturday night at his home in Capitol Hill, two days after his 71st birthday. His death creates a rare vacancy in the Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority, and upends what was expected to be a routine re-election race in South Carolina.
Graham's office initially cited a 'brief and sudden illness.' A preliminary medical examiner's finding indicated a ruptured aorta linked to hardened arteries, though the final cause of death is pending toxicology results.
The senator had fallen ill hours after returning from a trip to Ukraine. Former President Donald Trump said Graham called him that evening, sounding 'a little tired, but perfect.' Emergency responders were called, but Graham died shortly thereafter. Colleagues reported no prior warning signs.
Graham's political career was marked by a complex relationship with Donald Trump. In 2016, he called Trump 'unfit for office,' but later became one of his closest Senate allies, defending him through two impeachment trials. Trump described Graham as 'like a member of the family.'
As a senior Republican, Graham chaired the Budget Committee and previously led the Judiciary Committee, overseeing the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett in 2020. He co-authored a failed bipartisan immigration reform bill in 2013 and was poised to reclaim the Judiciary gavel if Republicans retained the Senate after the mid-term elections.
Known as a foreign policy hawk, Graham made ten trips to Ukraine since 2022 and advocated for a强硬 stance against Iran. The day before his death, he had negotiated a new sanctions package on Russia with the Biden administration. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both paid tribute.
Under South Carolina law, Governor Henry McMaster will appoint an interim replacement. A special primary must be held within weeks, and the winner will contest the November general election alongside the temporary appointee. The eventual winner will serve a full six-year term starting in January. Potential candidates include Representatives Nancy Mace, Ralph Norman, and Russell Fry, as well as Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette.
Graham had won his primary with 57 per cent of the vote and was scheduled to face Democrat Annie Andrews in November. His death forces Republicans into a compressed nominating process, turning what was a safe seat into a more competitive contest, though the district remains heavily Republican.
Tributes came from across the political spectrum, including Democrats Dick Durbin and Richard Blumenthal, who praised his willingness to work across the aisle despite disagreements. Former President George W. Bush called Graham a man who 'understood how the world works.' Governor McMaster described him as 'irreplaceable.'
