Please answer the following question: Facts: - jr/sr: united states senator - birth name: lindsey olin graham - state house: south carolina - alongside: tim scott - party: republican - predecessor: strom thurmond butler derrick lowell ross - birth date: 9 july 1955 - branch: united states air force - district: south carolina 3 3rd 2nd - term end: january 3 , 2003 january 3 , 1995 - serviceyears: 1982 -lrb- air national guard -rrb- 1995 -- 2015 -lrb- reserve -- -rrb- 1988 -lrb- active -rrb- 1989 -- 1995 - unit: u.s. air force judge advocate general 's corps - name: lindsey graham - website: -lsb- http://www.lgraham.senate.gov senate website -rsb- - birth place: central , south carolina , u.s. - successor: gresham barrett william sandifer - state: south carolina south carolina - alma mater: university -rrb- of south carolina -lrb- b.a. -rrb- -lrb- j.d. - allegiance: united states - term start: january 12 , 1993 3 , 2003 january 3 , 1995 january - image: lindsey graham , official portrait 2006.jpg - religion: southern baptist - rank: 19px colonel Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of lindsey graham .
Answer:
lindsey olin graham -lrb- born july 9 , 1955 -rrb- is an american politician and member of the republican party , who has served as a united states senator from south carolina since 2003 , and has been the senior senator from south carolina since 2005 .born in central , south carolina , graham graduated from the university of south carolina in 1977 .he received his juris doctor from the university of south carolina school of law in 1981 .he served in the united states air force from 1982 to 1988 and served as a guardsman first in the south carolina air national guard then in the air force reserves , attaining the rank of colonel .he worked as a lawyer in private practice before he was elected to the south carolina house of representatives in 1992 , serving one term from 1993 to 1995 .he then served in the united states house of representatives , representing south carolina 's 3rd congressional district from 1995 to 2003 .he was elected to four terms , receiving at least 60 % of the vote each time .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 .referred to by some as a '' war hawk '' and '' interventionist '' , graham is known in the senate for his advocacy of 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 , arguing for a more inclusive republican party .on may 18 , 2015 , graham informally...