Lindsey Graham, the high profile senior senator from South Carolina, died Saturday from “a brief and sudden illness,” his office said.
Read more Influencer Catherine Paiz Gives Birth to Baby No. 4 After Marrying Igor Ten
Graham, 71, had just returned from overseas and was running for a fifth term in the U.S. Senate. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1994 and spent one term in the South Carolina State House of Representatives.
He was an ally of President Donald Trump and often defended him, even though they occasionally would have public disagreements. The two were once rivals during the 2016 election when they both sought the GOP nomination for president.
Trump called Graham, “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known!” on a social media post Sunday morning. “He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed.”
Dispatch audio obtained and reviewed by CNN reveals emergency crews responded to a “cardiac arrest” at Graham’s residence Saturday evening, the network reported.
Graham represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since he was first elected in 2002, after stints in the U.S. House and South Carolina state house. He turned 71 Thursday.
Graham held some power U.S. Senate leadership seats, including most recently serving as chairman of the Budget Committee. He was in line to become chairman of the Judiciary Committee if the Republican Party remained in control of the U.S. Senate after the 2026 midterms, a role he held from 2019 to 2021.
“He was a trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others, and numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune in a statement on social media Sunday morning.
He also was known for being a staunch ally of countries Israel and Ukraine. Before his death, Graham had just come back from a trip to Ukraine. He was also outspoken about his support for the continuing U.S. military action in Iran.
Read more What to Know About Jayden Adams’ Partner Aqueelah Adendorf After His Death
Graham was competing for a fifth, six-year term in the U.S. Senate this year. He fended off five Republican competitors in June, winning the primary outright.
Graham, who was a bachelor, is survived by his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, and her two daughters.
“Peggy and I—and our children—are devastated. Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable. The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America—and a loyal and steadfast friend,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement. “We grieve with Darline, his family and his devoted staff. May God hold him gently in the palm of his hand. We shall not see his likes again.”
McMaster ordered the flags on government buildings be flown at half staff “until further order” to honor Graham.
Graham grew up in the small Upstate town of Central, where his family ran a restaurant and pool hall. Both of his parents died within 15 months of one another when he was a student at the University of South Carolina. Graham was the first in his family to go to college.
He served in the U.S. Air Force for 33 years, including more than six years of active duty as a lawyer. He retired from the Air Force Reserves in 2015 as a colonel.
Under South Carolina law, McMaster will name a replacement until the full-time successor wins the general election in November. The Republican Party is expected to hold a primary in August to select a candidate to replace Graham on the ballot to face Democrat Annie Andrews on Nov. 3.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 3:26 AM with the headline “Lindsey Graham, 71, South Carolina senator, dies after short illness.”
Read more UNC pitchers DeCaro, Lynch picked in MLB Draft, third and fourth Tar Heels taken