Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Graham is a prominent Republican U.S. Senator from South Carolina, first elected in 2002 to succeed long-serving Senator Strom Thurmond. Born on July 9, 1955, Graham grew up in Central, South Carolina, and pursued higher education at the University of South Carolina, earning degrees in psychology and law. He initially served in the U.S. Air Force, later entering politics as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives before moving to the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the Senate, Graham has been known for his conservative positions, including opposition to abortion and support for the death penalty, while also sometimes breaking with party lines to pursue bipartisan legislation. His political career gained national attention during his 2016 presidential campaign and his fluctuating support for President Donald Trump; he transitioned from critical opponent to staunch ally over time. Graham's actions have included significant roles in major political events, such as the impeachment trials of President Trump and the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court justices. He has faced controversy over his legislative proposals and comments regarding elections, including a subpoena related to the investigation of 2020 election interference. As of early 2023, Graham continues to be an influential figure in Republican politics, with indications of his intent to run for reelection in 2026.
Subject Terms
Lindsey Graham
- Born: July 9, 1955
- Place of Birth: Central, South Carolina
A member of one of the largest groups of freshmen to enter the Senate, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham was one of eleven new senators sworn in by Vice President Dick Cheney in January 2003. He succeeded controversial Senator Strom Thurmond, who had held the seat since 1956. In 2020 he won reelection for a fourth term. Graham briefly campaigned for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election, and later drew much media attention for at first strongly opposing and then staunchly supporting President Donald Trump.
Early Life and Education
Lindsey O. Graham was born on July 9, 1955, in Pickens County, South Carolina, and was raised in the town of Central. In 1975, his parents passed away and he was named the legal guardian of his younger sister. Graham attended the University of South Carolina and earned an undergraduate degree in psychology in 1977. He went on to earn a master's degree, as well as a law degree, completing his education in 1981.
After college, Graham joined the United States Air Force and worked in the legal office at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter. From 1984 to 1988, he served as chief prosecutor for the Air Force in Europe. Returning home in 1989, he served at McEntire Air National Guard Base as Staff Judge Advocate.
Early Career
In 1988 Graham opened his own law practice in South Carolina. He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1992, and during his first term he drew some attention for supporting legislation that prevented gay people from joining the state National Guard. After only a single two-year term, he ran for election to the US House of Representatives.
The retirement of ten-term Congressman Butler Derrick triggered a race to fill the vacant House seat in South Carolina's Third District, a strip of ten counties on the western edge of the state. Graham ran against a county council member and a fellow attorney in the primary. He earned 52 percent of the vote and went on to campaign for the general election, declaring his support for the Republican Party's "Contract with America." Graham's platform also included his plan to reform congressional term limits, to cease cuts to the defense budget, and to oppose a national health care system. Also, since his home district included two power plants with nuclear reactors, Graham was determined to keep apprised of nuclear regulatory issues.
Although his opponent, state senator James Bryan, received the majority of votes in a few counties, Graham won the election with 60 percent of the vote. In 1996 he was reelected by approximately the same margin. In 1998 he ran for reelection unopposed.
Soon after his election, Graham served as one of the Republican House managers during the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. His conservative Southern constituents approved of his performance in the hearings, and he earned recognition and prestige with his colleagues in Congress.
US Senator
In February 2001, Representative Graham announced that he would run for the Senate seat to be vacated by Strom Thurmond upon his retirement at the end of his term. Congressional Republicans had anticipated Graham's candidacy, and gave him their full support. Graham stated that if elected he would remain true to the hard work and philosophy of Thurmond, a staunch conservative also known for his support for racial segregation. Graham received the support of President George W. Bush, who traveled to South Carolina to speak on his behalf during the campaign. Graham defeated his Democratic opponent, Alex Sanders, and assumed Thurmond's seat in 2002.
Graham's early plans in the Senate include working for legislation that would forgive student loans for teachers who agree to teach in rural or urban areas where one-third of the children live at the poverty level. As a conservative Baptist, Senator Graham was in favor of school prayer. He also positioned himself as strongly opposed to abortion, while he supported the death penalty.
Graham was reelected in 2008, defeating Democratic Party challenger Bob Conley. During this term, he, along with other congressional Republicans, did not support the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. Graham did earn a reputation for at times breaking with his party to compromise with Democrats. For example, he played a role in crafting bipartisan legislation aimed at immigration reform that was passed by the Senate in 2013, though it ultimately failed in the House. Graham again won reelection in 2014.
In 2015 Graham announced that he was entering the race for the 2016 presidential election, campaigning largely on national security. However, he withdrew by late December, before the Republican primaries. He earned attention as a sharp critic of fellow Republican candidate Donald Trump, whose campaign was filled with controversies, and the two publicly insulted each other on several occasions. However, after Trump won the presidency, Graham met with him in March 2017 and abruptly became an outspoken supporter. The switch took many observers by surprise, and Graham himself noted that he was motivated by the potential to increase his political influence.
As Republican legislators made attempts under President Trump to replace the Affordable Care Act, Graham worked with Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy to draft a health care reform bill in 2017 that was ultimately tabled. In 2019 he was elected chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He continued to be a prominent defender of Trump, and after the president was impeached he was among the Republican Senators who voted to acquit in early 2020. Graham also headed the successful confirmation hearing for Trump's Supreme Court justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett in 2020, which controversially came just before that year's presidential election. Many critics pointed out that Graham had previously helped block Obama's Supreme Court nominee in 2016 on the grounds that it was an election year.
In the 2020 general election Graham's Democratic opponent Jaime Harrison enjoyed record-breaking fundraising efforts, but Graham still won reelection. Meanwhile, he backed false claims that Trump's defeat by Democrat Joe Biden was tainted by voter fraud and even personally questioned Georgia's secretary of state about disqualifying mail-in ballots in that swing state. However, when Trump supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an effort to overturn the election, Graham did criticize Trump for inciting the mob, and he eventually distanced himself from claims that the 2020 election was invalid. Nevertheless, he voted to acquit Trump of charges of inciting insurrection following the Trump's second impeachment.
In 2022 Graham received a subpoena to testify amid a criminal investigation into potential Republican efforts to interfere with 2020 election results in Georgia. He legally challenged the subpoena, arguing that he was constitutionally shielded from providing testimony, and the case reached as far as the Supreme Court. Graham also received attention in 2022 for introducing a bill that aimed to federally ban abortion beyond fifteen weeks of pregnancy. While he framed this as a compromise following the Supreme Court's overturning of the constitutional right to abortion in Roe v. Wade (1973), the proposal was not only heavily criticized by Democrats and women's rights advocates but also proved controversial among Republicans who preferred the matter be decided by individual states.
In January 2023, he appeared at a Trump rally, indicating his support for the former president's reelection campaign. However, during 2024 he was critical of Trump in several matters, including his performance in his September debate with Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris. He also suggested that Trump should stick to issues, not attacks. There were also early indications that he intended to run for reelection in 2026.
Bibliography
"Biography." US Senator Lindsey Graham, www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
Bort, Ryan. "Lindsey Graham Makes Desperate Case for Trump as 2024 Bid Sputters." Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2023, www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/lindsey-graham-praises-trump-2024-campaign-sputters-1234671460/. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
Kenmore, Abraham. "A new ad is backing Lindsey Graham, 2 years before he faces re-election." South Carolina Daily Gazette, 20 Aug. 2024, scdailygazette.com/2024/08/20/a-new-ad-is-backing-lindsey-graham-2-years-before-he-faces-re-election/. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
Konrad, Walecia. "A Closer Look at Lindsey Graham's Health Care Plan." CBS News, 18 July 2017, www.cbsnews.com/news/lindsey-graham-alternative-health-care-plan-closer-look/. Accessed 16 Octy. 2024.
"Lindsey Graham Fast Facts." CNN, 6 July 2023, www.cnn.com/2015/06/10/politics/lindsey-graham-fast-facts/index.html. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
Lobosco, Katie. "Republican Lindsey Graham Defeats Well-Funded Democratic Challenger Jaime Harrison in South Carolina." CNN, 4 Nov. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/11/03/politics/south-carolina-senate-race-2020/index.html. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
Millhiser, Ian. "Lindsey Graham's Surprisingly Complex Supreme Court Case About Trump's Big Lie, Explained." Vox, 28 Oct. 2022, www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/10/28/23425364/supreme-court-lindsey-graham-donald-trump-big-lie-georgia-fulton-county-fani-willis. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
Raju, Manu, and Elizabeth Landers. "How Lindsey Graham Shifted from Trump Detractor to Defender." CNN, 30 Oct. 2018, www.cnn.com/2018/10/30/politics/lindsey-graham-trump-evolution/index.html. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
Snell, Kelsey. "GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham Introduces 15-Week Abortion Ban in the Senate." NPR, 13 Sept. 2022, www.npr.org/2022/09/13/1122700975/gop-sen-lindsey-graham-introduces-15-week-abortion-ban-in-the-senate. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.