Lindsey Graham, the Republican US senator from South Carolina, has died at the age of 71 following a brief illness, according to a statement from his office. Graham had served in the Senate since 2003 and was known for his hawkish foreign policy stances and his shifting relationship with former President Donald Trump.
Graham's death creates an immediate vacancy in the Senate. Under South Carolina law, the governor will appoint a temporary replacement until a special election can be held. The timing of that election will depend on state law and the governor's decision.
The news comes at a politically sensitive moment in Washington. The Senate is currently finely balanced between Democrats and Republicans, and any change in the partisan makeup of the chamber could have significant implications for judicial confirmations, budget negotiations, and legislative priorities. Graham was a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Appropriations Committee.
Graham's career spanned more than two decades in the Senate. He was first elected in 2002 after serving in the US House of Representatives. Known for his work on national security and immigration reform, he was a key figure in several Supreme Court confirmation battles and was a vocal critic of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In recent years, he became a close ally of Donald Trump after initially running against him for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
Tributes have begun to pour in from both sides of the aisle, with colleagues describing him as a dedicated public servant and a formidable debater. His death marks the end of an era in South Carolina politics, where he was a dominant figure for over two decades.