Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-serving Republican power broker from South Carolina, died Saturday at 71 following a “brief and sudden illness,” his office announced. Graham, who chaired the Senate Budget Committee and held a senior position on the Appropriations Committee, was a central figure in legislative efforts to concentrate wealth upward and expand the state's military apparatus. His death immediately scrambles Senate business, particularly regarding the allocation of public funds and the confirmation of key state officials.
Graham was instrumental in passing former President Donald Trump’s marquee reconciliation tax-and-spending law, dubbed the “one big, beautiful bill.” This legislation served as a significant mechanism for wealth transfer, benefiting accumulated capital. Congress had already passed two such reconciliation bills this year, with a third package under discussion expected to include substantial military spending to replenish stockpiles depleted by the war with Iran, alongside provisions addressing “affordability issues and fraud.”
Bolstering the Imperial Garrison
Just before his death, Graham had returned from Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday. Zelenskyy praised Graham, noting his ten visits to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, calling him “a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.” This framing obscures Graham's consistent advocacy for aggressive U.S. foreign policy, which serves to secure resources, markets, and compliant governments for transnational corporations. Graham had recently met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to discuss using a reconciliation bill to bolster the Pentagon, further subsidizing the war machine.
His foreign policy hawkishness was a defining characteristic of his 32 years in Congress, first elected to the House in 1994 and to the Senate 24 years ago. He was a chief backer of Trump’s war in Iran, having called for military action against the Iranian regime for years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mourned Graham, stating, “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.” This highlights the deep ties between the U.S. imperial garrison and its client states.
Graham also played a critical role in efforts concerning Russia and Ukraine. He had announced an agreement with the White House to move forward with sanctions on buyers of Russian oil, a move designed to exert economic pressure and secure geopolitical interests. He and other senators declared, “As Russia intensifies its slaughter of civilians, it is imperative that the legislative and executive branches work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine.” Such rhetoric frames economic warfare as a moral imperative, masking its underlying strategic objectives.
Shaping the Legal Apparatus
Beyond military and fiscal policy, Graham’s influence extended to the state’s legal apparatus. He was a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and was next in line to chair it when Chair Chuck Grassley’s term ends. His death shifts the committee’s balance from 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats to 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats. This change could complicate the confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is scheduled to testify Wednesday before the Judiciary Committee. The committee's role in confirming judicial and law enforcement officials is crucial for maintaining the existing distribution of power.
Graham was also a staunch advocate for the SAVE America Act, Trump’s voter-ID and proof-of-citizenship bill. This legislation, despite facing steep odds even with Graham’s support, represents a clear attempt to restrict democratic participation, often disproportionately affecting working-class and marginalized communities. Trump himself stated, “This is a big blow to the Save America Act, let me tell you,” underscoring Graham’s commitment to policies designed to suppress organized challenges to the existing order.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster can appoint a temporary successor through January. Graham was seeking a fifth term in November, having won 57% of the GOP vote in South Carolina’s primary in June. His career, from humble beginnings to a powerful figure in Washington, exemplifies how individuals can rise within the system to become key enforcers of capital's agenda.