Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, passed away on Saturday evening at the age of 71 following a brief and sudden illness, according to a statement from his office. The statement expressed gratitude for prayers and requested privacy for Graham's family during this difficult time.
President Donald Trump reacted to Graham's death, describing him as a "true American Patriot" and expressing sadness over his passing. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster also released a statement, stating that he and his family were devastated by the news and called Graham irreplaceable.
Graham was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and had been seeking a fifth term after winning the Republican primary last month. He served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was a member of several other committees, including Appropriations and Judiciary.
Before his Senate career, Graham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. He served 33 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a colonel in 2015. He was scheduled to appear on NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday morning. Graham's office confirmed his death in a statement.