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Monday, July 13, 2026

A new Graham enters the Senate

Washington is still reeling from the shocking and surprising death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Typically on a Monday evening, reporters would try to break Graham's brisk pace on his way to votes to bug him about the latest news.

He would sometimes stop or have reporters follow him as he opined about what his advice to President Donald Trump would be regarding Iran or Ukraine or if he had some deal with Democrats. Other times, he'd shoo away the press, which became more common as he had his fingers in many different projects.

Graham's death comes as the ceasefire deal he railed against seems to also be collapsing into dust.

But no matter how much Graham loved the Senate–and vice versa, as so many tributes from both parties showed–it is a fickle muse.

Already, Gov. Henry McMaster has nominated Graham's sister Darline to serve the final months of his term after Trump recommended it. Graham's love for Darline, whom he cared for after their parents passed when he was 21, was probably the only thing that outpaced his love for the upper chamber.

Now, attention moves to the Judiciary Committee, on which Graham sat and he once led, as confirmation hearings for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will begin on Wednesday.

In addition, the race to replace Graham as the Republican nominee for Senate in November will begin apace. The fact that Graham held the seat for more than two decades means that there will likely be a clown car primary to replace him.

South Carolina, home of the first presidential primary below the Mason-Dixon line, is home to an aggressive style of politics beneath its genteel demeanor. And something says nobody would enjoy the hunt more than Graham.

Read more here.

By Eric Garcia

Reading list

Daily briefing

President Donald Trump getting off Air Force One at night

Trump cryptically announces plans for Thursday night national address

It’s unclear why Trump plans to speak and he did not specify a topic for his remarks, Andrew Feinberg writes.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

I’ve made a big mistake.

What President Donald Trump said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told him after Graham made a public break with Trump after January 6, 2021.

What else you need to know

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