Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who served in the U.S. Senate since 2003, died on Saturday at age 71 after a brief and sudden illness, his office said. He was known for his close relationship with former President Donald Trump and his advocacy of a strong U.S. foreign policy.

Graham was elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives and working as an Air Force lawyer. He chaired the Senate Budget Committee during the second Trump administration and previously led the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he helped confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in 2020. He played a central role in the Senate’s use of reconciliation to pass tax legislation and a 2013 bipartisan immigration bill that passed the Senate but stalled in the House.

Trump posted on social media stating that Graham was a notable figure and a patriot, and that he would be missed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he was saddened to learn of Graham’s passing and described him as a strong advocate for the United States and a friend. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Graham was a close friend of Israel and a cherished friend, noting his belief that U.S. and Israeli security are inseparable. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Graham was a defender of freedom and visited Ukraine ten times since Russia’s full‑scale invasion, most recently meeting with him.

Graham’s foreign policy work included frequent trips to conflict zones, meetings with leaders such as Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and advocacy for sanctions against Russia. He announced an agreement with the Trump administration on Friday to advance a package of Russia sanctions and had been in Ukraine to discuss the war. Graham’s relationship with Trump evolved from early criticism in 2016, when he called Trump unfit for office and refused to support his candidacy, to a close working relationship after Trump’s election, with Graham regularly advising the president on Iran and Russia matters. He publicly distanced himself from Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, saying he would not support the president again, but later returned to supporting the administration.

Graham faced periodic primary challenges in South Carolina but won the June 2024 nomination for a fifth term, defeating Democrat Annie Andrews. In his victory speech, he said he would help Trump change the country.

His death comes amid increased scrutiny of transparency regarding lawmakers’ health, following disclosures from Rep. Tom Kean Jr. and Sen. Mitch McConnell about undisclosed medical conditions. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement, who will serve until a special election in January. Graham’s influence on foreign policy and immigration legislation remains part of his legislative legacy.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham died on July 12, 2026, at age 71, after a career that saw him move from an early critic of Donald Trump to a vocal backer of his foreign policy agenda, including advocacy for a possible conflict with Iran.

Graham served in the Senate from 2003 after a tenure in the House, where he positioned himself as a foreign policy hawk and a close associate of the late Senator John McCain. During the 2015 presidential race he publicly opposed Trump, describing him as a demagogue and warning that a nomination would be disastrous.

After Trump won the 2016 election, Graham entered the president’s inner circle and began to endorse his policies. He has repeatedly stated that the United States would “obliterate” Iran if it threatened control of the Strait of Hormuz and urged the president to take decisive military action. He also criticized the impeachment proceedings against Trump, calling them “out of bounds” and “inconsistent with due process.” In remarks about John McCain, Graham expressed personal admiration and said he would honor McCain by helping the country. He described his friendship with President Joe Biden as “the nicest person I’ve ever met in politics.” He condemned Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the murder of a journalist, calling the prince “toxic” and saying he could not be a world leader. Graham’s statements on Iran and other issues have been cited in reports from outlets including the Associated Press, CBS, and Fox News.

Graham’s shifting public positions reflect his alignment with Trump’s administration on foreign policy, while his earlier criticism of the president illustrates the broader transformation within the Republican Party.

Lindsey Graham died on Saturday at age 71. His death prompted statements from Israeli officials and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Itamar Ben‑Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, offered a public tribute. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Graham was a close ally of Israel. Zelenskyy described Graham as a defender of freedom and a supporter of values that help keep the world safe. Graham served in the Senate for more than three decades and was known for his outspoken views on Israel and Ukraine and for his close alignment with former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy approach. He chaired Senate committees and led diplomatic trips that shaped U.S. relations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The remarks highlighted his long‑standing influence on international policy.

The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus held its annual conference this month and approved endorsements for 19 candidates running for statewide offices and U.S. House seats.

The caucus requires a two‑thirds majority of its voting members to approve an endorsement, after candidates present their platforms and the organization’s Campaigns Committee issues recommendations. The membership then votes on the endorsed candidates.

The endorsements include David Jolly for governor, Jose Javier Rodriguez for attorney general and Donald A. “Don” Pritchard for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services. For the U.S. House, the caucus backed candidates in districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 22, 24, 25, 26 and 27, including Gay Valimont, Seth Harp, Brit Robinson, Alex Hazen, Marialana Kintner, Jennifer Jenkins, Kimberly Overman, Kathy Castor, Christopher Irizarry, Kelly Kirschner, Curtis Gibson, Pia Dandiya, Shevrin “Shev” Jones, Jared Moskowitz, Nicole Locklin and Robin Peguero.

According to Kristen Browde, president of the caucus, the endorsed candidates have demonstrated a commitment to equality and good governance. According to Alfredo Olvera, campaigns director for the caucus, the endorsements reflect the collective voice of the membership and its desire to elect leaders who support equality, protect freedoms and promote dignity and opportunity.

Graham Platner, a political newcomer, announced his withdrawal from the Maine Senate race on July 10, 2026, after being recruited by out-of-state activists a year earlier, a development that has created difficulties for the Democratic Party in the state. Almost a year ago, Daniel Moraff and Leanne Fan, known for recruiting populist candidates nationwide, traveled to Maine and rented a house near Platner's home in Sullivan to persuade him to run for the U.S. Senate. Moraff, described as the campaign's primary strategist, served as Platner's main point of contact and managed campaign logistics, according to a source who requested anonymity. The Democratic Party in Maine has expressed concern over the sudden change and is reviewing its options for the upcoming election. The vacancy leaves the party without a confirmed nominee.