U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham died Saturday evening after falling suddenly and briefly ill, according to a post made early Sunday morning on X by his office’s communications director.
Graham was 71 years old and had represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate as a Republican. Over the course of his political career, he went from being a sharp critic of President Donald Trump to becoming one of the president’s most dependable supporters in Congress.
His office released a statement on behalf of his family: “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
Graham first won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, representing South Carolina’s third congressional district. He later moved to the upper chamber, winning a Senate seat in 2002, according to his official website.
Known as a strong advocate for national defense, his website noted that he had “consistently pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror that protect our long-term national security interests.”
At the time of his death, Graham was serving as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. He also held seats on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Graham was unmarried and made his home in Seneca, South Carolina.
