Sen. Lindsey Graham dies from aortic dissection

Graham, who was 71, was a long-time lawmaker, serving in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 before becoming a senator in 2003. Graham chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021 and most recently served as chair of the Senate Budget Committee. Just last month, he won the Republican primary nomination for his fifth term in the Senate.

Early Sunday morning, Graham's office confirmed that the senator died the previous evening from a "brief and sudden illness."

"Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," Graham's office said in a statement.

According to a preliminary report from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Washington, D.C., Graham likely died from an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which gradually weakens and hardens the arteries.

An aortic dissection is a rip in the aorta, or the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As blood rushes through the tear, layers of the aortic wall can separate, which can disrupt blood flow to organs or cause a fatal rupture.

Aortic dissections are often caused by an underlying aortic aneurysm, or a bubble in the blood vessels. High blood pressure, atherosclerosis, or certain rare genetic conditions can cause aortic aneurysms. In general, aortic dissections are relatively rare, only affecting around three to four people per 100,000 every year.

Around 50% of people who experience an aortic dissection will make it to the hospital, and around half will survive.

An aortic dissection "can come on in minutes or days and may be hard to recognize," said Marc Siegal, a senior medical analyst at Fox News.

Risk factors and warning signs of aortic dissection

Some groups who have an increased risk of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which could lead to aortic dissection, include people with hypertension, older adults in their 60s and 70, men, people with cardiovascular disease, smokers, and people with diabetes and obesity.

"You need to make sure your blood pressure is well-controlled, your cholesterol is low and that you are seen regularly by a doctor," Siegel said.

Reactions

Following Graham's death, several government leaders and colleagues posted tributes to the lawmaker.

In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump wrote that Graham was a "true American patriot" and called him "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known."

In a statement, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) said that Graham was "the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend."

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) wrote in a post on X that "South Carolina lost a statesman, and I've lost a friend."

"My prayers are with his sister and the rest of his family. From his humble beginnings to the Senate floor, Lindsey always led with faith, family, and South Carolina first," Scott added. "Lindsey remained committed to public service and doing what he loved. He always introduced levity and brought wit to the most challenging moments."

"He was a trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others, and numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel," Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said in a statement Sunday morning. "His influence on the federal judiciary, our national defense, and his beloved South Carolina will be felt for generations."

According to South Carolina law, McMaster will appoint someone to fill Graham's seat until Jan. 3, 2027. The state will also hold a special primary by Aug. 11 to select a replacement Republican nominee before the general election in November.

Graham's death narrows the Republican majority in the Senate to 52-47. Fellow Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has also been absent from Congress since June 14 after being hospitalized. Although the reason for McConnell's hospitalization was not initially reported, he released a statement on Sunday saying that he was recovering at a rehabilitation center after experiencing a fall and losing consciousness. He also said he experienced a "mild" case of pneumonia.