The sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham is weighing on Congress as it returned from a two-week holiday break on Monday to grapple with key defense and national security legislation during a compressed four-week summer work period.
The Senate opened on Monday with Graham's desk draped in black with a vase holding white flowers atop it.
Graham died late on Saturday. His sudden death came shortly after he returned to Washington from a trip to Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump said Monday he wants South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to appoint Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve the remainder of the late senator’s term which ends next January.
“I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,” Trump said in a post on social media. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”
The senator played major role in critical negotiations with Democrats and members of his own party to resolve key legislative issues.
Following his death, Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren posted on X: “Even though we disagreed on much, he was always willing to negotiate, with humor and wit.”
Graham’s absence deprives the Senate of a reliable Republican vote as the US holds its federal elections next November. Also, the party is scrambling to contain a widening rift and regain Trump’s confidence due to a clash over surveillance, Iran and SAVE America Act.
Graham served as a liaison between Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the White House, smoothing over tensions regarding Trump's demands to pass the SAVE America Act and attach it to budget reconciliation packages.
Praising Graham on Sunday, Thune called him “a trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others, and numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel.”
As chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Graham sought a new budget package to circumvent opposition from Democrats and pass Republican priorities such as additional defense funding, new tax cuts and some Trump-backed voter restrictions.
In the wake of his death, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson is poised to take over the Budget Committee.
Graham’s Replacement
Republican South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Monday appointed the sister of Graham to fill his vacant Senate seat until the first week of January.
Darline Graham Nordone is expected to be sworn in as early as this week, allowing Thune to maintain Republicans' 53-47 majority in the Senate.
She will fill out her brother's term, which ends the first week of January, when a new Congress will be sworn-in.
South Carolina's Republican Party will hold a special primary election on August 11 with a runoff on August 25 if no candidate wins a majority. Whoever captures the party nomination will face a difficult race against Democrat Annie Andrews in the November 3 general election.
A number of South Carolina Republicans have already expressed interest in taking over Graham’s seat, including Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman.
