Lindsey Graham is dead. The South Carolina Republican’s sudden passing throws a wrench into an already chaotic Senate. With Mitch McConnell sidelined in a hospital bed, the GOP’s razor-thin majority was already bleeding. Now, it is down another man.
Here is how the scramble to replace him plays out.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster holds the power to appoint a placeholder. But Graham was up for reelection this November. That means his death triggers a mad dash to the ballot box. State law points to a lightning-fast primary on August 11, with a runoff on August 25. The filing window is a blink-and-you-miss-it affair, running from July 21 to July 28.
This tight window will likely clash with federal laws protecting overseas military voters, who require a 45-day cushion for absentee ballots. Whoever survives this Republican gauntlet will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November. Andrews, a pediatrician, kept it classy on Sunday, praising Graham’s military past and urging voters to put partisanship aside.
Who wants the job? Everyone and no one.
Representative Nancy Mace, fresh off a fifth-place finish in the gubernatorial primary, said there is time to decide. She urged McMaster to appoint himself to the seat to avoid shrinking the GOP’s House majority. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette is reportedly taking calls. Evette had Donald Trump’s backing in her own recent race but still lost her runoff.
Trump claims he has a favorite. He told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he has someone in mind but said it was too soon to name names. Representative Joe Wilson quickly ruled himself out, posting that he told Trump he wants to stay in the House. Representative Ralph Norman, a Freedom Caucus instigator, is undecided. He admitted the news was a shock. Norman ran for governor last month, placed third, and missed the runoff. While a Trump loyalist, his cheapskate fiscal views often annoy party bosses.
In the short term, the Senate’s balance of power remains unchanged. McMaster will appoint a Republican. The 53-47 split will return. But the pressure is on to do it fast.
Policy is where the real pain lies. Graham chaired the Senate Budget Committee. He was the point man trying to force Trump’s voter ID bill through the reconciliation meat grinder. Trump has been throwing a tantrum over the SAVE America Act, demanding the death of the filibuster. On CNN, Trump claimed Graham was finally warming up to killing the filibuster right before he died.
Then there is the money. The White House wants more defense cash for the conflict in Iran. Graham was the loudest hawk in the room. Passing it without him—and without McConnell—will be a nightmare.
Just days ago, Graham was riding high. He had secured Trump’s blessing for a bipartisan tariff package targeting Russian oil. Now, his allies want to pass the bill as a tribute. Senator Jeanne Shaheen called it the ultimate memorial to his legacy.
Finally, Graham’s absence leaves a void on the Judiciary Committee. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faces a confirmation hearing this week. Trump just lost his fiercest defender.
