South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is set to name a temporary replacement to finish out Sen. Lindsey Graham’s term after his sudden death over the weekend.
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McMaster will announce a replacement during a press conference outside the South Carolina statehouse on Monday afternoon, tapping someone to carry out the remainder of Graham’s term, which ends in January. Voters will then have to participate in a special primary election to choose a new Republican nominee for the November election.
It’s not clear if the temporary replacement will run in the special primary to officially take over from Graham in January. Whoever the appointee is could just assume a caretaker role.
Although McMaster has not yet named an interim appointment, rumors have been swirling over who the replacement could be. President Donald Trump in a social media post on Monday recommended McMaster tap Darline Graham Nordone, the late senator’s sister, to finish out his term.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott backed that suggestion in a social media post on Monday.
A handful of GOP lawmakers expressed interest in the seat, although several who currently serve in the U.S. House declined to seek the interim position as a way to protect Republicans’ slim majority. However, those lawmakers could run in the primary election, which must be held by Aug. 11.
Medical examiner releases cause of death
The D.C. medical examiner’s office released a preliminary report on Sunday revealing Graham’s cause of death, showing he suffered from an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. That dissection resulted in a tear in the body’s main artery, which typically occurs when there is high blood pressure.
Additional toxicological and microscopic tests are still being finalized, according to the report.
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Graham died just hours after returning from a trip to Ukraine, during which he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump said he had spoken with Graham on the phone that night, telling CNN on Sunday morning that the senator sounded tired “but other than that, he was fine.”
Police scanner audio obtained by multiple outlets revealed that emergency medical responders responded to Graham’s home in Washington, D.C., to stabilize a man and transport him to the hospital.
Graham had just celebrated his 71st birthday on Thursday.
Republicans race to fill Graham’s committee assignments
Graham’s death leaves several positions to fill on Capitol Hill. The four-term senator served on a number of key committees in the Senate that are central to Republicans’ agenda ahead of the midterm elections.
Graham served as the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, the lead position to fulfill Trump’s $350 billion defense spending request through the reconciliation process — an arduous task that already faces an uphill battle in Congress. Graham has been one of the biggest advocates of a third reconciliation package while some Republicans have expressed skepticism there is enough time before the November elections.
Graham also holds positions on the Judiciary and Appropriations committees, which have crucial tasks to complete over the next few months.
The Judiciary Committee is tasked with confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general, officially replacing Pam Bondi, who was ousted in April. Blanche has been serving as the interim attorney general in the meantime but must be formally approved by the Senate.
Meanwhile, the Appropriations Committee must complete the 12 spending bills funding the federal government before the Oct. 1 deadline.
Senate Republican leaders will need to find senators to fill those vacancies.