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Graham Dies at 71
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican lawmaker from South Carolina and ally of President Donald Trump, died Saturday after what his office called “a brief and sudden illness,” and he was 71.
“Trump at 3:21 a.m. posted on social media that Graham was “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known.””
The Washington Post said Graham “died Saturday,” and The Hill reported Hunter Biden reflected on Graham’s death in a statement that shared memories of a “time before Donald Trump.”
The Atlantic described Graham as having just returned from a trip to Ukraine when he called Trump to talk about the trip and one of the president’s key legislative priorities, and it said Trump posted on social media at 3:21 a.m. that Graham was “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known.”
The Atlantic also said Graham’s death “thrown into question the path forward” on Trump priorities including a new reconciliation bill that could contain portions of the SAVE America Act on voting.
The Hill added that Trump said Graham’s death was a “big blow” to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) America Act, which would overhaul voter registration nationwide.
Tributes and Political Ripples
After Graham’s death, Democratic lawmakers emphasized his ability to work across the aisle, with former President Biden writing, “Lindsey and I served together in Congress for over a decade, and worked closely on many issues throughout the years.”
The Hill also quoted Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) saying, “Lindsey was loyal to friends and causes. He was willing to work on gnarly issues and take on (at times) political risks for the right reasons.”
The Atlantic reported White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote, “America has lost a Statesman. President Trump and the White House have lost a friend,” and it described Vice President Vance recalling a shouting match with Graham over Ukraine funding.
The Washington Post framed Graham as a “foreign policy hawk and Trump critic turned ally,” and it said he was “occasionally criticized as a political shape shifter.”
The Hill said Graham spoke with Trump about the SAVE America Act hours before he was pronounced dead on Saturday, linking the senator’s final hours to the legislation’s momentum.
Who Fills the Seat
Graham’s death immediately raised questions about who would follow him into the South Carolina Senate seat, with The Atlantic saying the appointment of any House Republican would “further erode the party’s slim advantage in the lower chamber,” and it noted the White House opposes Nancy Mace.
“Governor Henry McMaster, a staunch Trump ally, will appoint someone to fill the seat until January”
The Atlantic reported that Governor Henry McMaster will appoint someone to fill the seat until January, and it said a special Republican primary election will be held next month to pick a nominee.
KTEN, citing a spokesperson for Graham’s office, said Graham died “from a brief and sudden illness,” and it reported that under state law McMaster can appoint a temporary replacement to fill Graham’s now-vacant seat.
KTEN further said state law appears to call for a special primary election to be held on August 11, with a possible runoff on August 25, and it added that officials had not yet announced a process.
The Hill said Trump and his aides were openly mourning the loss of a close personal friend and ardent political ally, while The Atlantic warned Graham’s absence could narrow margins for Senate Republicans amid the absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell.
