Lindsey Graham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lindsey Graham
Official portrait, 2013
United States Senator from South Carolina
In office January 3, 2003 – July 11, 2026
Preceded by	Strom Thurmond
Succeeded by	TBD
Senate positions Chair of the Senate Budget Committee In office January 3, 2025 – July 11, 2026 Preceded by Sheldon Whitehouse Succeeded by TBD Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 Preceded by Chuck Grassley Succeeded by Dick Durbin Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 Preceded by Bernie Sanders Succeeded by Chuck Grassley Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee In office January 3, 2019 – February 3, 2021 Preceded by Chuck Grassley Succeeded by Dick Durbin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Butler Derrick
Succeeded by	Gresham Barrett
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 2nd district
In office November 9, 1992 – November 14, 1994
Preceded by	Lowell Ross
Succeeded by	Bill Sandifer III
Personal details
Born	Lindsey Olin Graham (1955-07-09)July 9, 1955 Central, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	July 11, 2026(2026-07-11) (aged 71) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	University of South Carolina (BA, JD)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force Air National Guard Air Force Reserve
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps South Carolina Air National Guard
Awards	Bronze Star Medal Meritorious Service Medal

Lindsey Olin Graham (July 9, 1955 – July 11, 2026) was an American politician and lawyer. He represented South Carolina in the United States Senate from 2003 until his death. He was a member of the Republican Party.

Before becoming a senator, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. He also served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995.

Born in Central, South Carolina, Graham studied at the University of South Carolina and its law school. He served in the United States Air Force as a lawyer from 1982 to 1989. He later served in the South Carolina Air National Guard and the United States Air Force Reserve. He retired as a Colonel in 2015. He received the Bronze Star Medal for his legal work during military operations.

Graham became well-known during the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. He was elected to the Senate in 2002 and reelected several times. He won the Republican nomination for a fifth term in June 2026 but passed away before the general election.

He believed the United States should play an active role in global affairs. He strongly supported countries like Israel and Ukraine, and organizations like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He often worked with politicians from both major parties. He was close friends with senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman. They were sometimes called the "Three Amigos." Graham led the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Budget Committee. He also helped confirm judges nominated by President Donald Trump.

Graham ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 but ended his campaign early. He was initially critical of Donald Trump during the 2016 election. However, he later became one of Trump's closest allies in Congress.

Early Life and Education

Lindsey Olin Graham was born on July 9, 1955, in Central, South Carolina. His parents, Millie and F.J. Graham, owned a local restaurant and other businesses. His family had Scotch-Irish roots.

After finishing high school, Graham was the first in his family to attend college. He joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. When he was 20, his mother passed away. His father died 15 months later. Because his younger sister was left without parents, Graham became her legal guardian. This allowed him to attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia to stay close to home.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology in 1977. He then received his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1981.

Military Service and Career

Lt. Gen. Jack L. Rives pins the Meritorious Service Medal on Colonel Lindsey Graham, April 2009

After law school, Graham became an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps) in 1982. He started as an Air Force defense attorney. He later became the Air Force's chief prosecutor in Europe, stationed in Germany.

He left active duty in 1989 and worked as a lawyer in South Carolina. He also joined the South Carolina Air National Guard in 1989. In 1995, he moved to the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

During the Gulf War (1990–1991), Graham was called back to active duty. He helped brief pilots on the laws of war. In 2004, he was promoted to Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. President George W. Bush officiated the ceremony.

In 2007, Graham served in Iraq and later in Afghanistan in 2009. He worked on legal issues related to military operations. In 2014, he received a Bronze Star Medal for his service as a senior legal adviser. He retired from the Air Force in 2015 after more than 33 years of service.

Early Political Career

South Carolina House of Representatives

In 1992, Graham was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. He represented the 2nd district in Oconee County. He served one term, from 1993 to 1995.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections to the House

In 1994, Graham ran for the 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the Republican primary and then defeated his Democratic opponent. This made him the first Republican to represent the district since 1877.

He was reelected in 1996, 1998 (unopposed), and 2000.

Serving in the House

In 1997, Graham was part of a group that challenged House Speaker Newt Gingrich's leadership.

He played a key role in the impeachment process against President Bill Clinton in 1998. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, he helped investigate the charges. He later served as one of the House managers during the Senate trial.

After the September 11 attacks, Graham voted to approve the Patriot Act. He also voted in favor of military action in Iraq in 2002.

House Committee Assignments

During his time in the House, Graham served on these committees:

• Committee on International Relations (1995–1998)
• Committee on Education and the Workforce (1995–2002)
• Committee on the Judiciary (1997–2002)
• Committee on National Security (1999–2002)

U.S. Senate Career

Official portrait, 2006

Senate Elections

2002 Election

In 2002, Senator Strom Thurmond retired. Graham ran to succeed him and won the Republican primary without opposition. He then won the general election, becoming South Carolina's first new U.S. senator since 1966.

2008 Election

Graham ran for a second term in 2008. He won the Republican primary and was reelected in the general election.

2014 Election

He sought reelection in 2014. Despite facing several challengers in the Republican primary, he won with more than 56% of the vote. He then won the general election.

2020 Election

Graham was reelected for a fourth term in 2020. He won the Republican primary and then defeated his Democratic opponent, Jaime Harrison, in the general election.

2026 Election

Graham announced his campaign for a fifth term in January 2025. He won the Republican nomination in June 2026. However, he passed away before the general election could take place.

Caucus Memberships

Graham was a member of several groups in the Senate:

• Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans
• International Conservation Caucus
• Senate National Guard Caucus (Co-chair)
• Sportsmen's Caucus
• Senate Oceans Caucus
• Senate Taiwan Caucus

He also served on the board of directors for the International Republican Institute.

Relationship with Donald Trump

Graham's relationship with Donald Trump changed over time. In 2015, when both were presidential candidates, they had public disagreements. Graham strongly criticized Trump's statements.

However, after Trump won the presidency in 2016, Graham became one of his close allies. He often spoke in Trump's defense. Graham explained that he wanted to work with the president to achieve good results for the country. He also mentioned that he and Trump played golf together.

Graham supported Trump's policies and his reelection campaigns. He also defended Trump against criticisms, including those related to Senator John McCain, who was a close friend of Graham's.

Views on the 2020 Election

After the 2020 presidential election, Graham initially supported challenges to the results. He raised concerns about election procedures and discussed election integrity with state officials.

However, on January 6, 2021, after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Graham spoke in the Senate. He stated that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were lawfully elected. He said it was time to accept the results.

2024 Election Support

Graham continued to support Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign. He appeared at rallies and advocated for Trump on news programs. He stated he would accept the election results if there was no "massive cheating."

Political Positions and Views

Graham was known as a conservative Republican. However, he sometimes worked with Democrats on issues like immigration and national security. He called himself a "Reagan-style Republican."

Supreme Court Nominations

Graham's views on filling Supreme Court vacancies changed over time. In 2016, he argued that vacancies should not be filled in a presidential election year if the presidency and Senate were controlled by different parties.

However, during the 2018 confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, Graham strongly defended Kavanaugh against allegations. He believed the process was unfair.

In 2020, when a Supreme Court vacancy arose before the election, Graham supported confirming President Trump's nominee. He explained that the rules had changed since 2016.

Bipartisan Efforts

In 2005, Graham was part of the "Gang of 14" senators. This group worked together to find a compromise on judicial nominations. This helped avoid political gridlock in the Senate.

National Security Agency

Graham supported the National Security Agency's collection of phone records. He believed it was important for national security and protecting the country from threats.

Internet and Technology

In 2018, Graham voted against legislation that would have restored net neutrality rules. In 2017, he voted for a proposal that removed internet privacy rules.

Gun Rights

Graham opposed universal background checks for gun purchases. He believed they would lead to gun registration. He supported efforts to flag individuals with mental health issues who try to buy guns.

In 2022, Graham supported a bipartisan agreement on gun control. This agreement included measures like "red flag" laws and stronger background checks for young buyers.

Healthcare

Graham opposed President Obama's health reform law, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He also played a role in efforts to repeal it. He proposed the Graham–Cassidy health care amendment in 2017.

Vaccines

Graham disagreed with Senator Rand Paul's comments about vaccines. He believed Paul was creating unnecessary anxiety about them.

Animal Welfare

Graham received high ratings from animal-protection groups. He supported efforts to end horse slaughter. In 2025, he co-sponsored the SAFE Act to stop the commercial slaughter and export of horses.

LGBTQ+ Rights

Graham supported the traditional definition of marriage. In 1996, he voted for the Defense of Marriage Act. In 2006, he supported a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

After the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) that same-sex marriage was legal nationwide, Graham said he disagreed with the ruling. However, he no longer believed a constitutional amendment was the right path. In 2022, he voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which provides federal recognition for same-sex marriages. He argued that states should decide the issue of marriage.

Climate Change

Graham initially supported a bill to address climate change in 2009. However, he later withdrew his support. In 2015, he stated that he accepted that climate change was real. He also said he was unsure about the role human activity played.

In 2020, Graham sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act. This bill aimed to help farmers sell carbon credits. In 2023, he co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act. This bill proposed a carbon tariff on imports from countries with higher greenhouse gas emissions.

Foreign Policy

Graham supported an active foreign policy for the United States. He, John McCain, and Joe Lieberman were known for advocating for American military involvement.

Graham believed the U.S. should maintain a long-term military presence in Afghanistan. He argued this would help both nations. He strongly opposed President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

Graham supported strong actions against Iran. After the 2026 Iran war ceasefire was extended, he praised the naval blockade. He believed it would pressure the Iranian government.

In 2010, Graham voted against the ratification of New START. This was a treaty to reduce nuclear weapons between the U.S. and Russian Federation.

Graham was a strong supporter of Israel. In 2017, he criticized President Obama for not vetoing a UN resolution that condemned Israeli settlement building. In 2019, he encouraged the Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel.

He consistently affirmed his support for Israel's security and its alliance with the United States.

Taxation and Trade

Graham supported closing tax loopholes. He believed that if some ideological ground was not given up, the country would face severe debt.

The Cato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies noted that Graham generally had a voting record that favored protectionism and subsidies.

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Graham was among the 31 Republican senators who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

Arctic Frost Investigation

In October 2025, it was revealed that the FBI had obtained Graham's phone metadata as part of the Arctic Frost investigation. This investigation looked into efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results. Graham stated that both his personal and government phone records were subpoenaed. He expressed concerns about this action.

2016 Presidential Campaign

Graham supported John McCain in his 2000 and 2008 presidential campaigns. In 2012, he endorsed Mitt Romney.

In 2015, Graham announced his own candidacy for President. He stated he was running because he believed "the world is falling apart." He suspended his campaign in December 2015 due to a lack of support. He then endorsed Jeb Bush.

In November 2016, Graham announced that he did not vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Instead, he voted for independent candidate Evan McMullin.

Electoral History

• Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1994, write-ins received 13 votes. In 2000, Natural Law candidate LeRoy J. Klein received 1,122 votes and write-ins received 33 votes. George Brightharp ran under both the Democratic and United Citizens Parties and received 2,253 votes on the United Citizen line.

Primary Elections

Personal Life

Graham helped raise his younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone, after their parents passed away. He was 22 and she was 13 at the time. His sister said he was like "a brother, a father and a mother rolled into one."

Graham lived in Seneca, South Carolina, and also had a residence in Washington, D.C. He was a Southern Baptist and a member of Seneca's Corinth Baptist Church.

Death

Graham passed away on the evening of July 11, 2026, after a "brief and sudden illness." He had just returned from an official visit to Kyiv, Ukraine. Emergency services responded to a call at his home in Washington, D.C., for chest pain. Preliminary findings from the medical examiner stated he died from an aortic dissection, which is a serious heart condition.

Reactions to His Passing

Domestic Tributes

Upon hearing the news, President Donald Trump called Graham a "true American Patriot" and said he was "like a member of the family." Former presidents Joe Biden and George W. Bush also honored Graham's public service. Biden remembered their shared commitment to public service despite their disagreements. Bush praised Graham as a knowledgeable senator dedicated to his country.

Many of Graham's colleagues in Congress also paid tribute. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called him a strong advocate for the United States. Fellow South Carolina senator Tim Scott said America had lost a statesman and he had lost a friend. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster called Graham "the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America."

Democratic senators remembered Graham's willingness to work across party lines. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Mark Warner, and Dick Durbin highlighted his work on Ukraine and national security. Amy Klobuchar praised his commitment to public service and efforts to help Afghan refugees.

International Tributes

International leaders also shared their condolences. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, described him as "a determined and fearless leader." Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, "America and the world have lost a resolute leader." Mark Rutte, secretary general of NATO, called Graham "a powerful advocate for America." German chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was "a true friend and partner of Germany."

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, stated that "Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend." Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Graham a "great American patriot" and a "great friend of Israel."

Electoral Implications

At the time of his death, the South Carolina Republican primary had already taken place. The 2026 midterm elections were 114 days away. The outgoing governor, Henry McMaster, may appoint a temporary replacement. This person would serve until the November election.

See also

In Spanish: Lindsey Graham para niños

• Republican Party presidential candidates, 2016]