Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has represented South Carolina for over three many years and was a key ally of President Donald Trump, died on Saturday night time, his workplace confirmed in a press release early Sunday morning.
Graham was 71.
His workplace described the reason for dying as “a short and sudden sickness.”
“Senator Graham’s household appreciates prayers presently and asks for privateness throughout this extremely troublesome interval,” the assertion added.
Assertion from the Workplace of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). pic.twitter.com/CQ5yVvqTH1
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 12, 2026
The Washington Post reported that police scanner audio indicated emergency responders had labored to stabilize a person at an deal with that corresponds to Graham’s residence on Capitol Hill after a name was positioned at round 8:30 p.m. ET for a person struggling chest pains.
First responders then mentioned that the person had gone into cardiac arrest and that CPR was being administered.
Graham, who was first elected to Congress as a part of the “Republican Revolution” class of 1994 within the U.S. Home, represented the state’s third Congressional District till 2003.
In 2002, he received election to the Senate, the place he changed the retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond, then the oldest-serving member of the higher chamber.
Graham was operating for reelection in 2026, the place he was thought of a strong favourite towards Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews.
He had additionally briefly run for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination with out success, dropping out in December of 2015 earlier than the first course of started.
“He’s excellent. He’s been at my facet for a very long time,” the president mentioned whereas showing nearly at a telerally for Graham final month, in line with the Put up, noting that the 2 have been opponents through the 2016 race.
“After that combat was over, we have been better of mates, and he’s helped me as a lot as anyone within the Senate,” Trump added.
Graham was most likely finest often called one of many staunchest hawks within the higher chamber, significantly in his vocal help of army motion towards Iran and his help for Israel.
“Right here’s what I inform President Trump,” Graham mentioned in March, in line with The Hill. “Stick with it for a couple of extra weeks, take Kharg Island the place the entire sources they’ve to provide oil, management that island, let this regime die on a vine.”
“I’m going again to South Carolina, I’m asking them to ship their little kids over to the Center East,” Graham added. “What I need you do within the Center East, to our mates in Saudi Arabia and different locations, step ahead and say, ‘That is my combat, too. I be a part of America. I’m publicly concerned in bringing this regime down.’”
He had lately returned from Ukraine after a gathering with that nation’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the place he informed reporters that each the White Home and the Senate had reached an settlement to impose extra sanctions on Russia to help Kyiv.
Graham’s dying leaves two Republican seats vacant within the Senate, with former Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell remaining hospitalized. McConnell, who was retiring after his time period expired in January, would get replaced underneath Kentucky regulation by a particular election if he determined to bow out early, and the governor — Democrat Andy Beshear — would have important latitude as to when to name a particular election.
Beneath South Carolina law, GOP Gov. Henry McMaster would choose a alternative for Graham within the Senate, and the Republican Get together would then resolve on a mechanism to pick out his alternative on the poll.
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