Lindsey Graham’s death triggers scramble to replace him as Congress returns

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has died unexpectedly in office, creating an urgent need to find his successor. Congress resumes work, and the Republican lawmakers' agenda has become even more complicated. Graham chaired the Budget Committee and was a key player in negotiating a party-line bill to fund additional defense spending and other priorities outlined by the president.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican and loyalist of Donald Trump, faces the political decision of a lifetime. He will appoint a new senator to serve out the remainder of Graham's term, which ends on January 3. The appointee will likely have an advantage in a special primary election on August 11 to fill Graham's place on the November ballot. Graham had won the primary in June despite facing five challengers from his party.

The election calendar favors candidates with wide name recognition and deep institutional support. The candidate would still run against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who gained significant support in the red state, but still faces an uphill challenge. Congressman Joe Wilson has reportedly expressed interest in the seat. He is the longest-tenured member of South Carolina's Republican delegation in Washington.

Meanwhile, the Senate Republican majority is now down two members due to the ongoing absence of Mitch McConnell for unexplained health issues. McConnell on Sunday revealed that he is in a rehabilitation center and will not return to the Senate just yet. He explained his long silence by saying that older folks often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with aging.

In other developments: The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled two days of confirmation hearings for Todd Blanche, Trump's nominee for attorney general. The Intelligence Committee announced that the confirmation of Clayton is back on. Republicans in both chambers remain confounded by Trump's renewed fixation on the Save America Act, which would ban mail-in ballots and impose new rules on voting nationwide.