Senator Lindsey Graham died on Saturday, a spokeswoman for the South Carolina Republican confirmed to MS NOW. Graham had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The spokeswoman gave no additional information on the circumstances on his passing. “On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” said a statement posted to Graham’s social media account. “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.” In a social media post , President Donald Trump called Graham “one of the greatest people and Senators” he has ever known and “a true American Patriot.” House Majority Leader John Thune also posted in response to the news, calling Graham “a trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others, and numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel. His influence on the federal judiciary, our national defense, and his beloved South Carolina will be felt for generations.” Graham, 71, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and was seeking a fifth Senate term in November, after fending off multiple primary challengers. Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, he was a powerful figure in conservative South Carolina politics. “Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable,” said South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster in a statement. “The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend.” McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement to fill Graham’s seat until January 2027. South Carolina Republicans will have to hold a primary later this summer to choose a new candidate to replace Graham on the ballot to face Democrat Annie Andrews in November. Andrews, a pediatrician who is not favored to beat a Republican in her deep red state, said in a statement, “I hope that South Carolinians will join me in setting partisanship aside and offering gratitude to Senator Lindsey Graham for his service to the great state of South Carolina.” Colleagues were stunned to learn of his passing. “Total shock and disbelief,” Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she was “shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of my good friend and valued colleague.” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said he, too, was “shocked and saddened,” calling Graham “a tireless champion for South Carolina, and an outspoken advocate for America’s role in protecting freedom throughout the world.” “South Carolina lost a giant last night,” said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. Mace, who lost her primary bid for governor, is “strongly considering” running in the GOP primary to replace Graham, a source familiar with the matter told MS NOW. Zelenskyy, who met with Graham just on Friday, a day before he died, said on X , “We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations. We met twice in just the past week.” Graham was a protégé of the late Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, and the two were personal friends well before Graham became an ally of Trump, who later frequently criticized McCain. He was one of the so-called “Republican revolutionaries” of 1994, a class of newly elected conservatives who swept Democrats out of power for the first time in 40 years. He eventually became a member of the House Judiciary Committee and served as one of 13 managers prosecuting President Bill Clinton’s impeachment in 1998. Newt Gingrich, who was speaker when Graham was elected to the House of Representatives, praised the late politician in a statement: “Senator Lindsey Graham was a remarkable leader. He was always positive enthusiastic and personable. He made major contributions to American national security.” In the 1980s, Graham served as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in the U.S. Air Force for six years and later served in the Air Force Reserve while in Congress. Graham’s military service helped inform his foreign policy views, and he remained one of the more hawkish members of the GOP when it came to international conflicts, including the war with Iran. In 2014, he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. This is a developing story. The post Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after ‘brief and sudden illness’ appeared first on MS NOW .