Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died Sunday morning following a brief illness, with emergency responders responding to his Capitol Hill home Saturday night after a report of cardiac arrest.
Graham, 71, served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was a prominent voice on defense and foreign policy within the Republican Party. He had been scheduled to appear on NBC News’ Meet the Press Sunday morning, a program he had visited 63 times throughout his career.
What Happened
Emergency responders were dispatched to Graham’s Capitol Hill residence Saturday night after receiving a call reporting possible cardiac arrest, according to police scanner audio obtained by NBC News. Photographs reviewed by the outlet showed paramedics transporting an individual on a stretcher from the home to a waiting ambulance, with police vehicles and fire trucks present at the scene.
Graham’s family released a statement saying he passed “from a brief and sudden illness.” “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement read.
A senior Graham aide told NBC News that there had been no indication the senator was experiencing health problems before his death.
The Reaction
President Donald Trump announced Graham’s death on Truth Social, writing: “Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune described 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 him “the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America-and a loyal and steadfast friend.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Graham was “a true defender of freedom and of the values that make our world safer,” noting that Graham had visited Ukraine 10 times since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. “We were in constant dialogue, which I will miss,” Zelenskyy said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated: “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.”
What Comes Next
Graham was serving his fourth term and had secured the Republican nomination for a fifth six-year term in June. South Carolina law requires Gov. McMaster to appoint someone to fill Graham’s seat until January 3, 2027.
State election law is expected to require South Carolina Republicans to hold a special primary by August 11 to select a new nominee for the November general election. It remains unclear whom McMaster will choose to fill the vacancy.
Graham’s death comes as fellow Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky continues recovering in a hospital following an incident last month involving a report of cardiac arrest at a residence linked to the senator.