Lindsey Graham

**Lindsey Olin Graham** (born July 9, 1955) is an American politician who serves as the senior United States Senator from South Carolina, serving in office since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He ran for President in 2016.

## Early life

Graham was born on July 9, 1955 in Central, South Carolina. his parents were Millie and Florence James "F.J." Graham. He studied at the University of South Carolina.

## U.S. senator (2003-present)

In 2002, Graham ran for the U.S. Senate after eight-term Republican incumbent Strom Thurmond announced his retirement. Graham won the primary unopposed and defeated Democratic opponent Alex Sanders in the general election.

Graham was re-elected to a second term in 2008, defeating Bob Conley. He won a third term in 2014, defeating Democrat Brad Hutto and Independent Thomas Ravenel.

Graham is known in the Senate for his support for a strong national defense, his support of the military, and as an advocate of strong United States leadership in world affairs.  He is also known for his willingness to be bipartisan and work with Democrats on issues like global warming, tax reform and immigration reform and his belief that judicial nominees should not be opposed solely on their philosophical positions. He is also a critic of the Tea Party movement.

During his political career, Graham never lost an election.

## 2016 presidential campaign

On May 18, 2015, Graham informally announced his candidacy for President of the United States; he made a formal announcement on June 1 in his hometown of Central, South Carolina. After low polling numbers, Graham withdrew from the race on December 21, 2015. He later announced his support for Jeb Bush for president.

## Personal life

Graham has never been married and has no children. He was close friends with the late Arizona senator John McCain.

## Other websites

- United States Senator Lindsey Graham _official U.S. Senate site_
- Lindsey Graham for U.S. Senate _official campaign site_
- Profile  at SourceWatch
- "Swing Conservative: The perilous bipartisanship of Lindsey Graham."  _Washington Monthly_, April 2005
- "The American Ghosts of Abu Ghraib", Sam Provance, _Consortium News_, March 27, 2007

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Lindsey Graham
- **image**: United States Senator Lindsey Graham August 2024.jpg
- **caption**: Graham in 2024
- **office**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on the Budget, Senate Budget Committee
- **term start**: January 3, 2025
- **predecessor**: Sheldon Whitehouse
- **office1**: Ranking Member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Senate Judiciary Committee
- **term start1**: January 3, 2023
- **term end1**: January 3, 2025
- **predecessor1**: Chuck Grassley
- **successor1**: Dick Durbin
- **office2**: Ranking Member of the United States Senate Committee on the Budget, Senate Budget Committee
- **term start2**: February 3, 2021
- **term end2**: January 3, 2023
- **predecessor2**: Bernie Sanders
- **successor2**: Chuck Grassley
- **office3**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Senate Judiciary Committee
- **term start3**: January 3, 2019
- **term end3**: February 3, 2021
- **predecessor3**: Chuck Grassley
- **successor3**: Dick Durbin
- **jr/sr4**: United States Senator
- **state4**: South Carolina
- **alongside4**: Tim Scott
- **term start4**: January 3, 2003
- **predecessor4**: Strom Thurmond
- **state5**: South Carolina
- **term start5**: January 3, 1995
- **term end5**: January 3, 2003
- **predecessor5**: Butler Derrick
- **successor5**: Gresham Barrett
- **state house6**: South Carolina
- **district6**: 2nd
- **term start6**: January 12, 1993
- **term end6**: January 3, 1995
- **predecessor6**: Lowell Ross
- **successor6**: Bill Sandifer III
- **birth name**: Lindsey Olin Graham
- **birth place**: Central, South Carolina, U.S.
- **party**: Republican Party (United States), Republican
- **education**: University of South Carolina (Bachelor of Arts, BA, Juris Doctor, JD)
- **signature**: Lindsey Graham Signature.svg
- **branch**: United States Air Force
- **rank**: Colonel (United States), Colonel
- **unit**: United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps