Sen. Lindsey Graham, 71, Dies of Aortic Dissection, Medical Examiner Finds
The death of a three-decade Senate figure and senior Armed Services Committee member triggers a vacancy process in South Carolina that will test the state's Republican governor appointment powers...
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died of aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to preliminary findings released Sunday by the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The findings were made public by Graham's office and reported by the New York Post on July 13, 2026. Graham was 71 years old and was found unresponsive at his Washington, D.C., residence.
Aortic dissection is a condition involving a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body's primary arterial vessel. The DC medical examiner's preliminary report cited the underlying cause as arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a chronic condition characterized by the buildup of plaque in arterial walls. The findings are preliminary; a final determination by the medical examiner's office would be reflected in a completed death certificate, which is a public record under DC law.
Graham was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008, 2014, and 2020, according to the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House and Senate records. He served on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, among others. At the time of his death, he held the position of senior senator from South Carolina, a seat he had occupied for more than two decades according to congressional records.
Under South Carolina law (S.C. Code Ann. § 7-17-210), the governor holds the authority to appoint a replacement to fill a vacant Senate seat until a special election can be held. South Carolina's current governor, Henry McMaster (R), would be responsible for initiating that process. The timeline and specific procedures for a special election in South Carolina are governed by state statute and would require further action from state election officials. No appointment had been announced as of the publication of this article.
Several material facts remain unknown at this time. The complete and final medical examiner's report — which would confirm or modify the preliminary cause of death — has not been released; that document is a public record obtainable from the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner upon completion. The identity and timeline of any Senate appointment by Governor McMaster is also unknown; that information would be reflected in an official gubernatorial proclamation, a public document filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The impact on Senate committee assignments and any pending legislation Graham sponsored would be determined by Senate leadership and recorded in the Congressional Record.