Long-serving Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has died at age 71 following a brief and sudden illness, according to reports Sunday.
Graham, who served in the Senate for decades and chaired the Senate Budget Committee, passed away Saturday night after emergency responders were dispatched to his Capitol Hill residence. Emergency services arrived at the home following a report of possible cardiac arrest, according to police scanner audio obtained by NBC News.
“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” a family statement said. President Donald Trump announced Graham’s death on Truth Social, calling him “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” and “a true American Patriot.”
What Led to His Death
NBC News reported Graham died from a “brief and sudden illness,” though officials did not immediately release additional medical details. A senior Graham aide told NBC News early Sunday that there had been no indication the senator was experiencing health problems before his death.
Paramedics transported an individual on a stretcher from Graham’s residence to a waiting ambulance, with police vehicles and fire trucks also present at the scene, according to photographs reviewed by NBC News.
His Political Legacy
Graham was one of the Senate’s most recognizable members and a leading voice within the Republican Party on defense and foreign policy. He had secured the Republican nomination for a fifth Senate term in June and was scheduled to appear on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday morning, a program on which he had been a frequent guest with 63 appearances over the years.
Just days before his death, Graham traveled to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. “Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and of the values that make our world safer,” Zelenskyy said, noting that Graham had visited Ukraine 10 times since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Graham “was a powerful advocate for America who believed strongly in the NATO Alliance and was actively working to bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Graham “devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world.”
Succession and Elections
Under South Carolina law, Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint someone to fill Graham’s seat until January 3, 2027. State election law is expected to require a special primary by August 11 for Republicans to select a new nominee for the general election scheduled in November.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune paid tribute to Graham as “a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe.” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster called Graham “the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America-and a loyal and steadfast friend.”
