Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71, opening South Carolina seat
What's next: South Carolina's governor will name an interim senator, with a special primary to follow within weeks.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and one of President Donald Trump's closest allies in Congress, died Saturday night after what his office called a brief and sudden illness. He was 71. A later statement from his office said preliminary findings from the District of Columbia medical examiner showed Graham died of aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff through Saturday evening. Graham had served in Congress for three decades and was seeking a fifth Senate term in November. Under South Carolina law, Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement, and a special primary to choose a nominee must be held within weeks of the vacancy.