US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away unexpectedly last night from a brief and sudden illness. It was a shock to the political world. President Trump, who was close to the senator, called the 71-year-old Republican senator from South Carolina “one of the greatest people I have known.” Sen. Graham was a staunch supporter of the president in recent years.
According to South Carolina law, Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement to fill Graham’s seat until Jan. 3 of next year.
Under the 17th Amendment, governors must call elections to fill Senate vacancies. The amendment also allows state legislatures to let governors make temporary appointments until voters choose a replacement. That has produced a patchwork system across the country.
Unlike some states, South Carolina does not generally require the governor to appoint someone from the same political party as the senator who left office. That gives the governor broad discretion in choosing a temporary replacement. It is not likely he will appoint a Democrat, but he could pick someone more liberal than Sen. Graham.
In June, Graham defeated multiple primary challengers to secure his party’s nomination as he vied for a potential fifth term. Now, a special primary must be held by Aug. 11, according to state election laws, to find a replacement nominee.
That nominee will face Democratic Dr. Annie Andrews in November.
In June, Graham defeated multiple primary challengers to secure his party’s nomination as he vied for a potential fifth term. Now, a special primary must be held by Aug. 11, according to state election laws, to find a replacement nominee.
Newt Gingrich on the Death of Lindsey Graham: Well, I think that there's a serious vacuum that he will leave behind. And he filled a big space. Think about President Trump, who I suspect has golfed with Lindsey 50 or 100 times. This is a great loss pic.twitter.com/xjdyVxH0ZH
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 12, 2026
