Lindsey Graham’s death triggers scramble to replace him as Congress returns – US politics live | US news
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Robert Mackey
U.S. senator Mitch McConnell revealed for the first time on Sunday that a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking silence about the Kentucky Republican’s condition after weeks of mounting speculation about his health.
McConnell, 84, said in a statement that he was subjected to a battery of tests as doctors tried to determine what caused his fall. She explained the long silence about her condition: “People in my generation are often reluctant to share the fragility that comes with aging.”
“Even in the public eye, I feel the same instinct; I can’t help it,” he said.
McConnell said he is currently in a rehab facility and will not return to the Senate “yet.” In the meantime, he said he continues to work with his staff on Senate business.
The statement included a smiling photo of McConnell with his wife, Elaine Chao; this was a veiled response to online speculation that he had died or become incapacitated. McConnell had a copy Sunday’s Washington Post sports section in his hand.
Sunday’s announcement came after he was hospitalized on June 14. McConnell’s office provided little information for weeks, insisting only that he was “receiving excellent care” and recovering.
Graham’s death triggers a fight to replace him; What will happen next?
George Chidi
South Carolina governor Henry McMaster made the political decision of his life with the unexpected death of Senator Lindsey Graham. The Republican governor and Donald Trump loyalist will appoint a new senator to serve out the remainder of Graham’s term, which ends Jan. 3.
McMaster’s appointee will likely have a head start in a special Aug. 11 primary to replace Graham in the November election, which he won despite facing five challengers from his party in June. This election calendar favors candidates with broad name recognition and deep institutional support.
The candidate will still run against Democratic candidate Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who has gained significant support in the red state but still faces an uphill battle.
Congressman Joe Wilson is reportedly interested in the seat. Of the Republican delegation to Washington, Wilson remained in office the longest. He has represented South Carolina’s second congressional district since 2001, and his activism within the state’s Republican party predates his dominance in state politics.
“With the passing of Senator Lindsay Graham, he will always be cherished as a tireless American Patriot for peace whose strength managed to defeat totalitarians,” Wilson said. wrote About X. “All three generations of the Wilson family express their deepest sympathy and appreciation for his selfless service.”
Lawmakers return to Congress as triggers of Graham’s death scramble to replace him
Hello, welcome to the live blog of US politics.
Republican lawmakers are returning to the Capitol this week following the unexpected death of Lindsey Graham as the party tries to appoint a new senator to serve his term.
Lawmakers from both parties are eager to highlight legislative victories before voters ahead of midterm elections in which control of Congress is at stake.
But for Senate Republicans, who are already considering a series of demands from Trump, their agenda was further complicated by the death over the weekend of Lindsey Graham, the budget committee chairman who played a key role in negotiating a party bill to fund additional defense spending and other priorities set by the president.
South Carolina governor Henry McMaster has been tasked with appointing a new senator to serve out the remainder of Graham’s term, which ends Jan. 3. The appointment is expected to be announced within a few days.
Whoever is chosen will be a head start in a special Aug. 11 primary to replace Graham in the November election, which he won despite facing five challengers from his party in June.
The candidate will still run against Democratic candidate Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who has gained significant support in the red state but still faces an uphill battle.
That means Senate Republicans will have to juggle a two-member majority with Mitch McConnell’s ongoing absence due to unexplained health issues.
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In other developments:
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The Senate judiciary committee has scheduled two days of confirmation hearings for acting attorney general Todd Blanche, who Trump nominated for the post, but it is unclear whether the death of Graham, who served on the committee, will affect the schedule. The intelligence committee also announced that Clayton’s confirmation had been re-approved.
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Republicans in both chambers remain stunned by Trump’s renewed commitment to the Save America Act, which would ban mail-in voting and impose new rules on voting nationwide. The measure, a version of which was approved by the House earlier this year with almost entirely Republican votes, is unlikely to pass the Senate, where it faces opposition from Democrats and some in the GOP.
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Ro Khanna accused the Israeli government and military on Sunday of “lying” about the US congressman’s detention by armed settlers and Israeli soldiers during his recent visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Khanna, a Democrat from California, had posted video evidence on social media on Wednesday of Israeli settlers and soldiers intercepting his convoy in the South Hebron hills near the village of Zanuta, where the Israelis had expelled Palestinians from their homes. Amnesty International calls a government-sponsored “ethnic cleansing campaign.”
