Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died on July 11 at age 71 following a brief illness caused by an aortic tear. Following his death, Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to finish his term, while South Carolina will use a primary and potential runoff to select a Republican nominee for the November election. His passing, combined with Senator Mitch McConnell's hospitalization, has temporarily eroded the Republican Senate majority and created partisan ties on the Budget and Appropriations committees.
Editor's Analysis
Missing are the perspectives of South Carolina constituents regarding the appointment of Darline Graham Nordone and the viewpoints of Democratic lawmakers on the resulting partisan ties in Senate committees. There is also a lack of coverage regarding the specific medical or public health context of the cause of death.