Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died Saturday night at age 71 after a “brief and sudden illness.”

Upon Graham’s death the SC Republican Party will hold a special primary by August 11 to choose a new November candidate. Gov. McMaster (R) will appoint a replacement to fill Graham’s seat until January 3. (Photo at right is of Graham in April)

On Saturday night, a Washington DC police scanner audio exchange, released to the public, indicates that emergency personnel responded to a “cardiac arrest” call at Graham’s residence on Capitol Hill. It has been reported that Graham gave no indication of not feeling well prior to his death.

Graham was elected to the Senate in 2002 and was running for a fifth term. He was the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was often praised when he was at odds President Donald Trump, but the two were on good terms when Graham died. Graham was a retired Air Force colonel  and he was an influential GOP voice on defense and foreign policy. Trump said Graham was “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known.”