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Lindsey Graham’s Death Complicates The Senate GOP’s Agenda

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WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans' near-term agenda is getting a lot more complicated without Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who died unexpectedly Sunday, as his absence potentially threatens GOP hopes to pass key legislation before the midterm elections.

The 71-year-old senator, who was a key liaison between Senate Republicans and President Donald Trump's White House, was an important player in major party goals, including legislation boosting defense spending, the confirmation of a key Trump ally and a package of sanctions he had long hoped to impose on Russia.

Graham's death leaves Republicans with a 52-47 majority, though they'll have only 51 votes for now due to the ongoing absence of the ailing Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Republicans will especially miss Graham this week as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a confirmation hearing on Todd Blanche, Trump's controversial pick to run the Justice Department. As a member of the committee and a frequent communicator with the president, Graham could have helped persuade any skeptical Republicans to vote for Blanche, who infuriated many of them this year by setting up a now-canceled slush fund for Trump to pay Jan. 6 rioters.

Without Graham, a single Republican defection could sink Blanche's confirmation within the Judiciary Committee.

As chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Graham was also central to Republicans' upcoming effort to pass a partisan spending bill with extra military funding — an increasingly complicated task as the Iran war restarts and the president's strategy remains horribly unpopular. The committee last year laid the groundwork for passing another GOP-only package, the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, which cut taxes for the rich and slashed Medicaid to partially pay for it.

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Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Graham's likely replacement as budget chair, has been more skeptical of increased budget deficits. Johnson fulminated against the tax cut bill for weeks last year before ultimately voting "yes" after receiving an unspecific commitment for future fiscal discipline from the president.

Graham was also expected to push for passage of a Russia sanctions agreement he announced last week during a trip to Ukraine. Someone else will have to take the lead on advancing this agreement, which has bipartisan support and may get a boost in tribute to Graham's work on it, as Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) suggested.

"On Friday, Senators Graham, Blumenthal, Wicker and I announced White House support for our Russia sanctions legislation to help finally achieve peace for Ukraine, which Lindsey described as one of his most consequential efforts," Shaheen said in a Sunday statement. "There can be no more fitting memorial to Lindsey, his legacy or the causes he fought for than to pass this legislation and realize his long-held dream of an independent and secure Ukraine."