U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is dead.
The 71-year-old ally and golfing partner of President Donald Trump succumbed to a “brief and sudden” illness Saturday evening, according to his staff.
After serving in the U.S. House, Graham was first elected to the Senate in 2002. He had just fended off a handful of Republican opponents to secure the South Carolina Republican nomination for yet another term.
Who will succeed him as the interim senator will be determined by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, also a Republican. This temporary replacement would then stand for election to a full term during the mid-term election in November, where he or she would face Dr. Annie Andrews, who won the Democratic primary.
While critical of Trump during his run for the presidency in his first term, Graham became a staunch ally. As The New York Times reports:
After a volley of criticism around Mr. Trump’s first presidential run, the two men became close allies, bonding over regular golf outings. While Mr. Graham occasionally voiced disagreements with Mr. Trump, they largely remained in lock step on most policy issues.
“If you want somebody who can go to Washington to help him, I’m your best choice,” Mr. Graham said of Mr. Trump during his recent campaign.
While the cause of death has not thus far been revealed, the Washington Post reported:
Emergency responders were dispatched to a DC address for Graham around 8:30 p.m. for a report of someone suffering from chest pains, according to audio of the dispatch on Broadcastify. The audio indicates someone had called in from Baltimore and was on the way to the home.
The dispatcher said the caller believed the door was unlocked, though emergency responders said it was deadbolted, according to the audio. About 25 minutes later, they reported that CPR was in progress, the audio shows.
Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after ‘brief and sudden illness’
R.I.P. and condolences for family members and friends of the late Senator. Unfortunately, the abandonment of his principles and his unapologetic U-turn towards Trump’s agenda will be what most folks will remember as his legacy.
😯😯 Holy 💩! They dropping like flies!