US Senator Lindsey Graham, the longtime Republican from South Carolina, died Saturday evening from a brief and sudden illness, his office announced. He was 71.
Graham had served in the Senate since 2003 and was running for a fifth term this fall. His office did not disclose additional details about the nature of his illness.
The South Carolina Republican had chaired the Senate Budget Committee since January 2025, a position from which he led Republicans on major fiscal legislation. Graham was first elected to the House in 1994 before moving to the Senate, building a career as a prominent voice on foreign policy and national security.
Graham had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. During that visit, he toured a Ukrainian defense-tech company’s drone production facility, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
Graham was one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress, though he had been a vocal critic of Trump before becoming one of his most loyal supporters in recent years. “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” his office said in a statement.
Sources
- CNN — Confirmed Graham’s death at 71 from brief and sudden illness, his role as South Carolina senator since 2003, and that he was running for reelection in 2026
- The Guardian — Identified Graham as a key Trump ally and noted his evolution from Trump critic to loyal supporter
- Senate Budget Committee official site — Confirmed Graham’s role as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee
- Ukrainska Pravda — Reported Graham’s visit to Ukraine and tour of SkyFall drone production facility on July 11, 2026
- Sky News — Noted Graham had recently returned from Ukraine where he met with Zelenskyy
