Nancy Mace poised to enter South Carolina Senate race after Lindsey Graham's death: Report

The sudden death of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has set off a scramble to fill one of South Carolina's two Senate seats, opening the door to a competitive Republican contest just months before the 2026 midterm elections.

Graham died on Saturday after what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness," two days after his 71st birthday. A longtime ally of President Donald Trump and one of the Senate's most influential voices on foreign policy, Graham had been seeking a fifth term and had already secured the Republican nomination.

Under South Carolina law, Governor Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement until Jan. 3, when the next senator is sworn in. The state must also hold a special Republican primary by Aug. 11 to choose a new nominee for the November election.

Nancy Mace preparing Senate bid

Representative Nancy Mace is preparing to launch a bid for the Senate seat, according to Politico, which cited two people familiar with her plans.

The outgoing House member is expected to begin polling this week and still has campaign funds remaining from previous congressional races. Mace is leaving the House after an unsuccessful run for governor earlier this year, where she finished fifth in the Republican primary.

This would not be her first Senate campaign. Mace challenged Graham in the 2014 Republican primary but finished a distant fifth.

A leading voice on foreign policy

During more than two decades in the Senate, Graham became one of Washington's most prominent foreign policy hawks.

He strongly advocated military support for Ukraine, a hardline approach toward Iran and Russia, and unwavering backing for Israel. Just days before his death, he had returned from Ukraine after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky and had announced progress on a bipartisan package of sanctions targeting Russia.

World leaders paid tribute following his death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Graham as "one of Israel's greatest friends," while Zelenskyy called him "a true defender of freedom."

From Trump critic to trusted ally

Graham's relationship with Trump evolved dramatically over the past decade.

After criticizing Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primary and declaring him "unfit for office," Graham later became one of the president's closest allies. He frequently advised Trump on foreign policy, defended him during both impeachment trials and remained a key figure in advancing the administration's agenda in Congress.

Although he briefly distanced himself from Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, the two eventually reconciled and maintained a close political relationship throughout Trump's second term.

Career defined by influence

First elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving four terms in the House, Graham built a reputation as one of Capitol Hill's most influential lawmakers.

He chaired both the Senate Judiciary and Budget Committees, helped shepherd conservative judicial appointments, worked on bipartisan immigration reform efforts, and remained a powerful voice on national security issues.

Known for his sharp wit and ability to work across party lines despite fierce political disagreements, Graham received tributes from Republicans and Democrats alike, who praised both his legislative influence and personal relationships across Washington.

His death now leaves South Carolina Republicans racing to fill one of the party's most consequential Senate seats ahead of the November elections.