U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71
July 13, 2026
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who spent more than two decades in the Senate and became one of the chamber’s leading voices on defense and foreign policy, died Saturday evening, July 11. He was 71.
According to a statement released by Senator Graham’s office, the District of Columbia Medical Examiner’s preliminary examination found that the senator died from an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The office said the death certificate remains pending until toxicology and microscopic testing are complete, at which point it will be updated with the final cause and manner of death.
Graham had been in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and he was scheduled to appear on a national news program Sunday morning.
A native of Central, South Carolina, Graham was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and won reelection in 2008, 2014 and 2020. He previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the South Carolina House, and he retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a colonel after more than three decades of military service. At the time of his death, he chaired the Senate Budget Committee.
Gov. Henry McMaster called Graham irreplaceable and described him as one of the fiercest advocates for South Carolina. President Donald Trump, a close ally, remembered the senator as a true American patriot and one of the greatest senators he had known. Tributes also came from foreign leaders, including Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Continue scrolling to the bottom of the page to read tributes from leaders and organizations across South Carolina.
How the Seat Will Be Filled
Graham’s death creates a vacancy in his current Senate term, which runs through Jan. 3, 2027. Under South Carolina law, the governor fills that vacancy first by appointment, followed by an election to complete any unexpired portion of the term.
State law, found in S.C. Code Section 7-19-20, allows the governor to appoint a temporary replacement immediately. That appointee serves until Jan. 3 following the next general election. Because South Carolina’s general election falls on Nov. 3 this year, an appointee named by McMaster would serve through the end of Graham’s current term.
State law does not require the appointee to belong to the same party as the departed senator, though a Republican governor would be expected to name a Republican. South Carolina is among the majority of states that fill U.S. Senate vacancies by gubernatorial appointment rather than requiring a standalone special election. The approach is permitted under the 17th Amendment, which lets states set their own rules for filling Senate seats.
A New Nominee for November
Graham’s seat was already on the ballot this year. He won the Republican primary in June for the term beginning in January 2027. His death leaves the party without a nominee for the Nov. 3 general election, so the South Carolina Republican Party must select a replacement nominee through a special primary and, if needed, a runoff.
Under the state’s election calendar, candidate filing is expected to open July 21 and close July 28. A special primary would follow on Aug. 11, with a runoff, if necessary, on Aug. 25. The winner would represent the party in the November general election, and the victor in that race would serve the full six-year term.
Those dates are tentative and have not been confirmed. The South Carolina Election Commission and state party officials are expected to set and announce the official schedule in the coming days, and the timeline could change.
Funeral and memorial arrangements had not been announced as of Sunday.
Here are some tributes and statements from across South Carolina.
Gov. Henry McMaster:
“Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable. The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America —and a loyal and steadfast friend. 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.”
Mayor Knox White of Greenville:
“Lindsey Graham embodied meaningful public service. From the Air Force to the South Carolina Statehouse, to the U.S. Capitol, Senator Graham dedicated more than four decades of his life to protecting and serving others. His death is a shock and a loss for our state, our nation and the world,” said Mayor Knox White.
Mayor William S. Cogswell, Jr. of Charleston:
“Senator Lindsey Graham served South Carolina in Washington for more than three decades, and the Lowcountry saw the results of that service every day. He championed the deepening of Charleston Harbor from its first study to its final dollar, securing our port’s future for generations. He was equally committed to protecting our city from flooding helping win federal authorization for the Battery Extension and delivering funding for drainage improvements from the peninsula to West Ashley. He loved this state and wasn’t shy about cutting through bureaucracy to bring common sense solutions that pushed South Carolina forward.
“On behalf of the City of Charleston, our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends, and his staff. His legacy will endure in the city and state he loved.”
SCETV President and CEO Adrienne Fairwell:
“The passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham marks a significant moment in South Carolina’s history, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Graham family and all those mourning his loss.”
City of Columbia Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann:
“The City of Columbia joins South Carolinians in mourning the passing of United States Senator Lindsey Graham. We extend our deepest condolences to his sister, Darline, his family, his dedicated staff, and the countless friends, veterans, colleagues, and constituents whose lives were touched by his career in public service.
For more than 30 years in elected office, Senator Graham served South Carolina with honor after first serving our nation in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps. His life was defined by service, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the people of our state.
Although his work often placed him on the world stage, Senator Graham never lost sight of home. He was a tireless champion for Columbia, working across party lines with our congressional delegation, state leaders, and local officials whenever our community needed an advocate. His leadership helped secure critical federal support for the Assembly Street Railroad Separation Project, including congressional appropriations and letters of support for federal grants. He also helped advance improvements to the Columbia Canal and Headgates, secured funding for Harden Street, supported infrastructure investments tied to Scout Motors, and worked tirelessly to help Columbia receive long-awaited FEMA funding following the devastating 2015 floods, federal assistance that took nearly a decade to bring across the finish line.
Senator Graham believed progress was achieved through partnership, not partisanship. Time and again, he put the needs of South Carolina above politics, and Columbia is stronger because of it.
Charleston International Airport President and CEO Elliott Summey:
“It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to my friend, Senator Lindsey Graham.
This photo was taken just a few weeks ago, on the Friday before his primary victory in June. Like so many times before, we talked about Charleston, our airport, and the future of South Carolina. No matter how busy he was or what challenges he faced in Washington, Lindsey always made time to fight for the people and places he loved.
Lindsey was much more than a United States Senator to me. He was a trusted friend to me and my family. Through the years, he was always there when Charleston needed him. Time and again, he stood with us in helping grow Charleston International Airport, strengthening our region, creating opportunities, and ensuring South Carolina had a strong voice on the national stage.
He loved South Carolina deeply and never stopped fighting for our state or our country. Whether you agreed with him or not, no one could ever question his dedication, his courage, or his willingness to stand up for what he believed was right.
I will miss his friendship, his counsel, his wit, and his unwavering commitment to the people he served. South Carolina has lost one of its fiercest champions, and I have lost a dear friend.
