Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2003, died on July 11 at age 71, his office announced. Graham was first elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives from 1994. He was known for his advocacy of military action in Iraq and Iran, opposition to the 2015 nuclear agreement, and his close association with former President Donald Trump. He supported Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 and voted to confirm Kavanaugh after the 2021 impeachment proceedings. His office said he died from a brief and sudden illness. The District of Columbia medical examiner issued a preliminary finding of an aortic dissection related to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The death certificate is pending until toxicological and microscopic testing are completed. Emergency services were dispatched to Graham’s Capitol Hill residence after a call reporting chest pains at about 8:30 p.m. on July 11; personnel reported that CPR was underway and the individual was in cardiac arrest. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media thanking Graham for recognizing Ukrainian warriors. President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social account, stating that Graham was a respected senator and would be missed. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said Graham was a dedicated public servant and noted that state law permits the governor to appoint a replacement to the Senate seat. Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised Graham’s international engagement and his contributions to the judiciary, defense, and the state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog expressed condolences, noting Graham’s support for Israel. Graham grew up in Central, South Carolina, earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina, served as an Air Force lawyer and in the South Carolina Air National Guard, and was first elected to the House in 1994 before winning a Senate seat in 2002. He sought the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, initially criticizing Trump before later becoming one of his closest advisors on foreign policy. He was part of the group of three senior Republican senators, often called the “three amigos,” alongside the late John McCain and Joe Lieberman. His death leaves a vacancy in the Senate that will be filled according to South Carolina law, and further details regarding the cause of death will be released after the medical examiner’s final report.