Lindsey Graham, Longtime South Carolina Senator, Passes Away

It was 2:35 AM on a Sunday when my phone rang, dragging me from the depths of sleep. Late-night calls are rarely good news.

In that brief moment before I picked up, my mind raced through possibilities. I was a journalist covering the Capitol, and at this hour, I couldn’t help but think the worst.

And then the news came: South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a key figure in the Republican party, had died at the age of 71.

My initial thought was, “Isn’t this about Mitch McConnell?” McConnell had been absent from work for weeks due to a mysterious illness, causing rampant speculation online. So naturally, I held onto a sliver of hope that this call was about him.

On the line was my colleague, Jodi Curtis, who has been working odd hours due to her own health issues. When she broke the news about Graham, I struggled to process it. “Graham? I thought it was McConnell,” I stammered.

My instincts kicked in—was this some kind of misinformation or an elaborate hoax? After all, it’s easy to jump to conclusions in the fast-paced world of news.

But sadly, it turned out to be true. As I tried to articulate my shock, I remembered some Native American wisdom that suggests, “Death is coming; it’s always unexpected.”

Lindsey Graham is gone. But the question now is: who will take his place on Capitol Hill?

There was discussion among officials about his sister, Darling Graham, stepping into the role. Both Sen. Katie Britt and Sen. Tim Scott expressed their support for her to follow in her brother’s footsteps. Even President Trump felt this would be a fitting tribute. South Carolina’s Governor Henry McMaster agreed, saying, “It’s an honor to ask his sister to finish the job now.”

Darling, a political novice, was adopted by Lindsey after their parents passed away when she was a teenager. She shared, “Lindsey has always been there for me, and I will always be there for him.”

Lindsey was not just a senator; he was a guardian figure in her life. Now, she will hold his Senate seat until January.

The question of “who’s next?” looms large. South Carolina’s Congressional delegation is small, and Rep. Joe Wilson already bowed out of potential candidacy, stressing the importance of his role in the House. Glancing at the situation, appointing someone from the House would complicate the Republican majority’s dynamics, creating vacancies that could take months to fill.

Appointing Darling Graham seems to sidestep many of those pitfalls.

Some members of the House, including Rep. Russell Frey, Rep. Nancy Mace, and Rep. Ralph Norman, are eyeing a full term, with the primary slated for mid-August. The winner will face off against Democrat Annie Andrews in November. It’s noteworthy that Lindsey had just secured his Republican nomination for another term.

This upcoming election will indeed be historical. For the first time since the mid-1950s, South Carolina will have no representation from either Lindsey Graham or the late Strom Thurmond on the ballot.

On Monday afternoon, the Senate convened for the first time since Graham’s passing. Senate Chaplain Barry Black offered a moving prayer, expressing gratitude for Graham’s contributions and seeking solace for those grieving.

Graham’s desk was draped in a black cover, with white roses adorning it—symbols of change and the void left by his absence.

“It already feels empty without him,” said Senate Minority Leader John Thune.

No doubt, Graham’s departure leaves a significant loss. Senator James Lankford mentioned how Graham sought not just to debate but to effect real change. Remarkably, just before his passing, Graham appeared to broker an agreement on sanctions against Russia, indicating his commitment to his work until the very end.

Elected first in 1994 during the “Republican Revolution,” Graham became well-known shortly thereafter as one of the House impeachment managers for President Clinton.

His death has created a palpable gap in Congress. “It’s going to be challenging to pass anything without him,” remarked Sen. Cynthia Lummis.

Darling Graham has now taken her brother’s place, making history as South Carolina’s first female senator. It’s certainly a bittersweet transition. In her first public remarks, she reflected on how her brother taught her significant life lessons, like riding a bike, always there to cheer her on.

Today, as she steps into her new role, one can almost hear the late senator encouraging her, urging her to keep pedaling forward.