How Lindsey Graham’s death will affect the Senate race

WASHINGTON— The sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina’s senior Republican lawmaker, complicates the state’s U.S. Senate race as Republicans face a quick primary to replace him.

Graham, 71, who died Saturday after a possible aortic rupture, was running for a fifth term in the Senate. While his political allies openly mourn his loss, negotiations have begun over the vacancy and President Trump has signaled his intention to weigh in.

Trump, who ordered American flags to be lowered to half-staff in Graham’s honor, said: “There’s someone I think would be great, but I don’t want to say that now because it’s too soon for Lindsey.” NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday. “I don’t even want to talk about anyone, but there’s someone I think is really good.”

Graham’s death negatively affected Republicans’ voting majority in the Senate; So is the absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. He was hospitalized for weeks. Creates new uncertainties for Republicans at a time when the party is feuding with Trump decreasing popularity Tensions are high among Americans, and tensions are also high among Senate Republicans who are at odds with Trump.

Graham’s death was the second major shakeup in the Senate race in a week after Democratic candidate Graham Platner left Maine. Like that state’s Democrats, South Carolina Republicans face an urgent process to choose a new candidate four months before the November midterm elections.

It remains to be seen whether the incumbent’s absence will tighten the race or force the GOP to pour in extra money. South Carolina is a reliably red state, and Graham’s seat was not widely viewed as competitive; the race is rated solidly Republican by the Cook Political Report.

“I’m hopeful we’ll have a good November,” said Drew McKissick, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, but added: “You don’t take anything for granted, and that’s the last thing I would do in a situation like this.”

McKissick recalled that Graham was dedicated to helping his party on levels and sometimes in little-noticeable ways, helping out county organizations and down-ballot candidates.

“It’s time [was] “He was a staunch pro-life senator without equal,” McKissick said, adding that he spent money on many issues that were incredibly important to our party.

According to him, the party needs to hold a special election to replace him in the November elections state election law. Republicans who want to run for the seat can apply starting July 21, and the primary election will be held on August 11, with the runoff election taking place on August 25.

Graham was opposed by Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who said Sunday that Graham was “a man of great faith who proudly served our nation.”

“I hope South Carolinians will put partisanship aside and join me in expressing gratitude to Senator Lindsey Graham for his service to the great state of South Carolina,” Andrews said. wrote.

Jay Parmley, executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said the fact that there are now open seats changes the race.

Parmley said this will require a “reshuffle” of the campaign strategy built around opposing Graham, but Democrats’ big-picture approach to countering Trump and MAGA Republican values ​​will apply no matter who the new nominee is. He predicted that the race would be competitive.

“It’s definitely in play,” Parmley said of the seat. “I think it’s been played before… but now I think the game begins.”

Democrats need to hold on to their seats in three competitive states and flip seats in at least four more. The party has largely focused on Maine, Alaska, Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas for possible swings.

Democratic strategist Andrew DeStefano said South Carolina remains a tough stretch for Democrats, so Graham’s death likely won’t change the party’s calculus.

“The math is still very clear and doable,” DeStefano said. “Right now, despite the Senate math and even playing in some tough states, I would rather be a Democrat than a Republican.”

Under South Carolina law, Republican Governor Henry McMaster can appoint Someone who will fill Graham’s vacant seat by January. McMaster said in a statement that Graham was “irreplaceable” and called him “the fiercest warrior in South Carolina and America.”

If a member of South Carolina’s congressional delegation were to be appointed to the seat, it would erode the party’s slim margin in that chamber, something some House Republicans were also considering. trying to avoid. At least one, Rep. Joe Wilson, said Sunday that he told Trump he would not seek the seat to maintain his House majority.

In Kentucky, McConnell will retire at the end of this term and a race is underway to fill the open seat in November. If he dies before the new session of Congress begins in January, that could lead to a legal fight. an untested Kentucky state law A special election is required to fill a vacant Senate seat, but it won’t affect the race in November.

Little information about his condition has been released from McConnell’s office; Several Republican lawmakers said last week they had spoken to him directly, but questions about his status continued to mount. “Tell us what’s going on,” Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said. insisted on Saturday In X.

Democrats in Maine announced last week 25 July congress 601 county delegates and state party members will choose Platner’s replacement.

“Conditions are different between the two states,” said David Farmer, a Maine-based Democratic strategist, “but this will certainly turn into a strange midterm election that will create huge risks for the country.”