Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Lindsey Graham

1966: Fritz Hollings elected to U.S. Senate

In 1966, Fritz Hollings was elected to U.S. Senate. Lindsey Graham became South Carolina's first new U.S. senator since Fritz Hollings in 1966, upon his election in 2002.

1982: Joined the United States Air Force

In 1982, Lindsey Graham joined the United States Air Force as a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps.

1982: Commissioned as Officer in JAG Corps

In 1982, after graduating from law school, Lindsey Graham was commissioned as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps) in the United States Air Force.

1984: Served as Chief Prosecutor in Europe

In 1984, Lindsey Graham was transferred to Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany, where he served as the Air Force's chief prosecutor in Europe until 1988.

1988: End of Service in the United States Air Force

In 1988, Lindsey Graham ended his active duty service in the United States Air Force, after which he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve while in Congress.

1988: Assistant County Attorney

In 1988, after his service in Europe, Lindsey Graham returned to South Carolina and served as assistant county attorney for Oconee County.

1989: Left Active Duty in Air Force

In 1989, Lindsey Graham left active duty in the Air Force and entered private practice as a lawyer.

1989: Joined South Carolina Air National Guard

In 1989, after leaving the Air Force, Lindsey Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard.

1990: City attorney for Central

In 1990, Lindsey Graham served as city attorney for Central until 1994.

1990: Recalled to active duty

In 1990, Lindsey Graham was recalled to active duty for the Gulf War.

1991: Served as Judge Advocate During Gulf War

In 1991, during the Gulf War, Lindsey Graham served as a judge advocate at McEntire Air National Guard Station.

1992: Assistant County Attorney

In 1992, Lindsey Graham ended his service as assistant county attorney for Oconee County.

1992: Elected to South Carolina House of Representatives

In 1992, Lindsey Graham was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 2nd district in Oconee County.

1993: Served in South Carolina House of Representatives

In 1993, Lindsey Graham began serving his term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

1994: City attorney for Central

In 1994, Lindsey Graham ended his service as city attorney for Central.

1994: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1994, Lindsey Graham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district.

1995: Served in U.S. House of Representatives

In 1995, Lindsey Graham began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing South Carolina's 3rd congressional district.

1995: End of term in South Carolina House of Representatives

In 1995, Lindsey Graham finished his term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

1995: Joined U.S. Air Force Reserve

In 1995, Lindsey Graham joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve after serving in the South Carolina Air National Guard.

1996: Vote for the Defense of Marriage Act

In 1996, Lindsey Graham voted for the Defense of Marriage Act.

1996: Reelected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1996, Lindsey Graham was reelected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Debbie Dorn.

1997: Took Part in Leadership Challenge

In 1997, Lindsey Graham took part in a leadership challenge against House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

1998: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

In 1998, Lindsey Graham was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

1998: Reelected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1998, Lindsey Graham was reelected to a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed.

1998: Graham cites Nixon during Clinton impeachment

In December 2019, Democrats referenced statements Lindsey Graham made during the 1998 impeachment of Bill Clinton, including his citation of Richard Nixon.

2000: Graham supports John McCain for president

In 2000, Lindsey Graham supported John McCain's bid for the presidency, marking an early instance of his support for McCain's political career.

2000: Reelected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2000, Lindsey Graham was reelected to a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating George Brightharp.

2002: Voted for the Iraq Resolution

In 2002, Graham voted for the Iraq Resolution, which authorized military action against Iraq. He also supported the invasion of Iraq.

2002: Elected to U.S. Senate

In 2002, Lindsey Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding Strom Thurmond.

2003: Became U.S. Senator

In 2003, Lindsey Graham became the senior United States Senator from South Carolina, a position he has held since then.

2004: Promoted to Colonel

In 2004, Lindsey Graham was promoted to colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve at a White House ceremony.

May 23, 2005: Gang of 14 compromise

On May 23, 2005, Lindsey Graham was part of the "Gang of 14" senators who reached a compromise to end the blockage of judicial nominees, preventing both Democratic filibusters and the Republican "nuclear option".

July 2005: Secured declassification and release of memoranda

In July 2005, Lindsey Graham secured the declassification and release of memoranda that outlined concerns made by senior military lawyers as early as 2003 regarding the legality of interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.

November 2005: Amendment to DOD Authorization Act Passed

In November 2005, an amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act authored by Lindsey Graham was passed in the Senate, attempting to clarify the authority of American courts, following a June 2004 Supreme Court decision.

February 2006: Amicus Brief in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld Case

In February 2006, Lindsey Graham joined Senator Jon Kyl in filing an amicus brief in the Hamdan v. Rumsfeld case arguing that Congress was aware the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 would strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to hear cases brought by Guantanamo detainees.

2006: Support of McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill

In 2006, Lindsey Graham supported S. 2611, the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill, earning him the ire of conservative activists.

2007: Influenced Bush's surge strategy in Iraq

In 2007, Graham, along with John McCain and Joe Lieberman, collectively known as "the three amigos," significantly influenced President Bush's advocacy for the surge strategy in Iraq. Their influence reached its zenith during this period.

2007: Served in Iraq as Reservist

In 2007, Lindsey Graham served in Iraq as a reservist on active duty for a short period in April and for two weeks in August, focusing on detainee and rule-of-law issues.

2007: Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act

In 2007, Lindsey Graham was a supporter of S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.

2008: Primary Challenge

In 2008, Graham faced a primary challenge due to his stance on immigration and collaboration with Senator Ted Kennedy; despite this, he won the nomination by a large margin.

2008: Graham co-chairs McCain's presidential campaign

In 2008, Lindsey Graham served as the national co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign, demonstrating his strong support and involvement in McCain's political aspirations.

2008: Reelected to U.S. Senate

In 2008, Lindsey Graham was reelected to the U.S. Senate, defeating Buddy Witherspoon in the Republican primary and Bob Conley in the general election.

August 2009: Served in Afghanistan

During the August 2009 Senate recess, Lindsey Graham served in Afghanistan.

August 2009: Served as Senior Legal Advisor

From August 2009, Lindsey Graham served as a senior legal advisor to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan, overseeing the detention of military prisoners.

December 10, 2009: Co-sponsored letter committing to passing a climate change bill

On December 10, 2009, Lindsey Graham, along with senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, co-sponsored a letter to President Obama committing to passing a climate change bill. However, Graham later withdrew his support due to disagreements over the handling of immigration issues, jeopardizing the bill's passage.

December 2009: Vote Against Affordable Care Act

In December 2009, Lindsey Graham voted against the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

June 2010: Stated that the science about global warming has changed

In June 2010, Graham stated that the science about global warming had changed and that he believed it had been oversold. He also announced plans to vote against the climate bill he had originally co-sponsored, citing offshore drilling restrictions.

November 6, 2010: Called for preemptive military strike to weaken the Iranian regime

On November 6, 2010, Graham called for a preemptive military strike to weaken the Iranian regime.

December 2010: Voted against the ratification of New Start

In December 2010, Graham was one of 26 senators to vote against the ratification of New Start, a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and the Russian Federation.

2010: Thornton Law Firm's campaign contributions

Between 2010 and 2014, partners from the Thornton Law Firm, known for asbestos-related litigation, and one of their wives, contributed $1.6 million to politicians, with $1.4 million being reimbursed to the partners by the firm.

2010: Voted against Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act

In 2010, Lindsey Graham voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.

2010: Immigration Reform Talks with Chuck Schumer Break Down

In early 2010, Lindsey Graham began working with Democratic New York senator Chuck Schumer on immigration reform, but the talks broke down later that year.

August 2011: Co-sponsored resolution regarding Russia's invasion of Georgia

In August 2011, Graham co-sponsored a resolution contending that Russia's invasion of Georgian land in 2008 was an act of aggression, not only to Georgia but to all new democracies.

2011: Supported a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq

In 2011, Graham supported a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq, saying that if the U.S. wasn't smart enough to have 10,000 to 15,000 troops there in 2012, Iraq could "go to hell."

2011: Kelly Ayotte joined Graham and McCain

In 2011, Kelly Ayotte joined the Senate and was considered Lieberman's replacement in the group of Graham and McCain.

April 2012: Graham endorses Mitt Romney for president

In April 2012, after Rick Santorum withdrew from the race, Lindsey Graham endorsed Mitt Romney as the presumptive Republican nominee for president. This endorsement came after Graham had declined to endorse a candidate before the South Carolina Republican primary in January 2012.

June 2012: Graham supports closing tax loopholes

In June 2012, despite signing Grover Norquist's Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Lindsey Graham expressed support for closing tax loopholes even without corresponding decreases in other tax revenue, citing the country's significant debt as a reason to compromise on ideological grounds.

November 2012: Resumption of Immigration Reform Talks with Schumer

In November 2012, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Schumer resumed their talks on comprehensive immigration reform.

2012: Discussed American troops in Iraq

In 2012, Graham commented on the potential need for a continued U.S. military presence in Iraq to prevent instability.

January 28, 2013: Announcement of Immigration Reform Principles

On January 28, 2013, Lindsey Graham was part of a bipartisan group of eight senators that announced principles for comprehensive immigration reform.

January 29, 2013: Accused Hillary Clinton of "getting away with murder"

On January 29, 2013, Graham stated that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "got away with murder" after her testimony about the 2012 Benghazi attack.

February 28, 2013: Criticized budget reduction

On February 28, 2013, Graham criticized Obama and both political parties on the Senate floor for allowing budget reduction to occur with "two-thirds of the budget" exempt from reductions. He stated that the impact on the Department of Defense would create a "hollow military" that "invites aggression".

March 2013: Introduction of Bill to Close Gun Loopholes

In March 2013, Lindsey Graham, along with senators Jeff Flake, Mark Begich, and Mark Pryor, introduced a bill to close loopholes related to gun purchases by individuals with a history of insanity defenses or court-ordered mental health treatment.

June 23, 2013: Senate Close to 70 Votes for Reform Package

On June 23, 2013, Lindsey Graham stated that the Senate was close to obtaining 70 votes to pass the immigration reform package.

July 16, 2013: Suggested a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

On July 16, 2013, Graham suggested the United States should consider boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, because of "what the Russian government is doing throughout the world".

July 25, 2013: Amendment on Sanctions for Countries Offering Asylum to Edward Snowden

On July 25, 2013, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations unanimously adopted an amendment by Lindsey Graham to the Fiscal Year 2014 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, seeking sanctions against any country that offered asylum to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

2013: Influence declined due to Lieberman's retirement

In 2013, the influence of Graham and his allies declined due to Lieberman's retirement from the Senate.

July 2014: End of service as senior legal advisor

In July 2014, Lindsey Graham ended his service as a senior legal advisor to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan.

2014: Thornton Law Firm's campaign contributions

Between 2010 and 2014, partners from the Thornton Law Firm, known for asbestos-related litigation, and one of their wives, contributed $1.6 million to politicians, with $1.4 million being reimbursed to the partners by the firm.

2014: Reelected to U.S. Senate

In 2014, Lindsey Graham was reelected to the U.S. Senate.

March 7, 2015: Graham advocates reversal of defense spending cuts

On March 7, 2015, at a "Politics and Pies" forum, Lindsey Graham advocated for reversing defense spending cuts and jokingly suggested using the military to keep Congress in session until the issue was resolved.

March 2015: Graham supports Saudi-led intervention in Yemen

In March 2015, Lindsey Graham voiced his support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, emphasizing the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia and characterizing them as mortal enemies of Iran. Graham stated the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia in the context of regional politics in March 2015.

April 19, 2015: Graham indicates likelihood of presidential run

On April 19, 2015, Lindsey Graham stated on Fox News Sunday that he was "91% sure" he would run for president, contingent on his ability to raise sufficient funds.

May 18, 2015: Graham informally announces presidential run

On May 18, 2015, Lindsey Graham informally announced his candidacy for President on CBS This Morning, citing his belief that "the world is falling apart" as his motivation.

June 1, 2015: Graham announces presidential candidacy

Lindsey Graham officially announced his candidacy for President of the United States on June 1, 2015, marking the start of his campaign.

June 17, 2015: Graham responds to Charleston church shooting

After a mass shooting at a historic African American church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended campaign events and returned to South Carolina. He addressed the controversy surrounding the Confederate flag at the State Capitol, acknowledging its multiple interpretations and emphasized the shooter's personal responsibility for the crime.

December 2015: Dropped out of presidential race

In December 2015, Lindsey Graham dropped out of the Republican nomination race for president before the 2016 primaries began.

December 21, 2015: Graham suspends presidential campaign

On December 21, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended his presidential campaign due to a lack of support and poor polling numbers, ending his bid for the presidency.

2015: Accepted that climate change is real

In 2015, Graham said that he "completely understand[s] and accept[s]" that climate change is real, but said "I don't know" the role human activity played.

2015: Retired from Air Force

In 2015, Lindsey Graham retired from the Air Force at his last rank of colonel, with over 33 years of service.

2015: Sponsorship of Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

In 2015, Lindsey Graham sponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in the Senate, which sought to ban abortion after 20 weeks of gestation on a national basis, with exceptions.

January 15, 2016: Graham endorses Jeb Bush for president

On January 15, 2016, Lindsey Graham endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for president, following the suspension of his own campaign.

February 2016: Graham says Trump is a 'kook'

In February 2016, Lindsey Graham stated that Donald Trump was a 'kook', crazy, and unfit for office.

May 2016: Graham refuses to support Trump or Clinton

In May 2016, after it became clear that Donald Trump would be the Republican nominee, Lindsey Graham announced that he would not vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, expressing his disapproval of Trump's political approach.

November 8, 2016: Graham votes for Evan McMullin

On November 8, 2016, Lindsey Graham announced that he had voted for Evan McMullin in the presidential election, after previously stating he would not vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.

2016: Report on Graham's campaign contributions from Thornton Law Firm

In 2016, The Boston Globe reported that Lindsey Graham was the only Republican recipient of money from a major Democratic donor, the Thornton Law Firm, which was under scrutiny for questionable campaign donation practices.

2016: Republicans boycott Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland

In 2016, after Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died, Republican senators boycotted Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland and Lindsey Graham said that Supreme Court vacancies should never be filled in a presidential election year.

2016: Investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election

In January 2018, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Grassley recommended charges against former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, who was identified as the author of the Steele dossier, in connection with the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. They believed Steele had lied to federal authorities.

January 5, 2017: Condemned Obama for abstaining from UN Security Council Resolution 2334

On January 5, 2017, Graham condemned Obama for abstaining from UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem as a violation of international law.

March 2017: Graham meets with Trump

In March 2017, Lindsey Graham met with Donald Trump, and stated that the meeting went so well, he gave Trump his new phone number, referencing their conflict in 2015.

March 2017: Vote for Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal

In March 2017, Lindsey Graham voted for the Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal, which eliminated the FCC's internet privacy rules and allowed internet service providers to sell customers' browsing history without their permission.

October 2017: Called for an expanded role of the U.S. military in Niger

In October 2017, following the Tongo Tongo ambush that killed four U.S. soldiers, Graham called for an expanded role of the U.S. military in Niger and suggested more aggression by the U.S. toward its enemies.

November 2017: Graham criticizes media's reporting on Trump

In November 2017, Lindsey Graham criticized the media's reporting on Donald Trump, stating concerns about attempts to label Trump as unfit to be president.

2017: Efforts to Repeal Obamacare

In 2017, Lindsey Graham played a leading role in efforts to repeal Obamacare, authoring the Graham–Cassidy amendment.

January 2018: Graham recommends charges against Christopher Steele

In January 2018, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Grassley recommended charges against former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, who was identified as the author of the Steele dossier, in connection with the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. They believed Steele had lied to federal authorities.

April 2018: Graham supports Trump's reelection

In April 2018, Lindsey Graham stated that he would support Donald Trump's reelection in 2020.

April 2018: Graham introduces legislation to limit Trump's ability to fire Mueller

In April 2018, following the FBI raid on Michael Cohen's office, Lindsey Graham, along with Cory Booker, Chris Coons, and Thom Tillis, introduced the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act. This legislation aimed to limit President Trump's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller by allowing for an expedited judicial review of any dismissal to determine its appropriateness in April 2018.

May 2018: Vote Against Net Neutrality Legislation

In May 2018, Lindsey Graham voted against legislation that would have overturned the FCC's ruling and restored net neutrality.

July 2018: Visited Manbij in Syria

In July 2018, Graham and Senator Jeanne Shaheen visited Manbij in Syria and met with the Manbij Military Council.

October 2018: Graham comments on Supreme Court vacancies

In an October 2018 interview, Lindsey Graham said that if an opening comes in the last year of President Trump's term, and the primary process has started, they'll wait till the next election.

November 2018: To Chair Senate Judiciary Committee

In November 2018, Senator Chuck Grassley announced that Graham would take his place as chair of the Judiciary Committee.

2018: Position on Roe v. Wade

In 2018, Lindsey Graham stated that while he was anti-abortion, Roe v. Wade should not be overturned without good reason, considering it as precedent.

2018: Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings

In 2018, during Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Lindsey Graham opposed delaying the process due to Christine Blasey Ford's sexual assault allegations. Graham doubted Ford's recollection of the alleged assault by Kavanaugh.

January 2019: Graham urges Republicans to support Trump's policies

In January 2019, Lindsey Graham said that Republicans must support Donald Trump's policies, warning that undermining the president would mean the end of his presidency and the party.

February 2019: Mark Leibovich interviews Graham

In February 2019, Mark Leibovich interviewed Lindsey Graham for The New York Times Magazine, during which Graham discussed his reasons for becoming a prominent supporter of Donald Trump, stating he sought to be relevant and gain influence.

March 11, 2019: Encouraged Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel

On March 11, 2019, Graham stated he would encourage the Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel.

March 14, 2019: Graham blocks resolution calling for Mueller's report to be made public

On March 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham blocked a resolution that called for the public release of the Mueller report. This action occurred after the House had unanimously passed the resolution.

May 14, 2019: Graham encourages Donald Trump Jr. to ignore subpoena

On May 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham faced scrutiny for encouraging Donald Trump Jr. to ignore a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee.

May 2019: Called for military invasion of Venezuela

In May 2019, Graham called for a military invasion of Venezuela to overthrow Nicolás Maduro amid the 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis.

May 2019: Proposed New Immigration Laws

In May 2019, Lindsey Graham proposed new immigration laws that would restrict asylum applications to migrants from their home country or Mexico, streamline the deportation process for unaccompanied children, and extend the detention period for migrant children.

June 2019: Graham votes to block Trump's Saudi arms deal

In June 2019, Lindsey Graham was among seven Republicans who voted to block President Trump's arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. He also voted against an additional 20 arms sales, marking a stance against the administration's policy at the time in June 2019.

June 25, 2019: Graham defends Trump's cooperation with Mueller investigation

On June 25, 2019, Lindsey Graham defended President Trump's level of cooperation with the Mueller investigation, stating that Trump provided a large number of documents and made individuals available for testimony.

July 2019: Visit to Migrant Detention Center in Texas

In July 2019, Lindsey Graham visited a migrant detention center in Texas. He described it as an "overwhelmed facility" rather than a "concentration camp" and stated he did not care if migrants had to stay in such facilities for 400 days.

July 24, 2019: Graham questions the authenticity of the Mueller report

Following Robert Mueller's testimony to congressional committees on July 24, 2019, Lindsey Graham speculated about the authenticity of the Mueller report, suggesting that it was merely attributed to Mueller but not actually his work.

October 8, 2019: Graham Condemns Trump's Syria Troop Withdrawal

On October 8, 2019, Lindsey Graham condemned Donald Trump's announcement to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, citing risks to the nation and his presidency.

October 2019: Graham threatens sanctions against Turkey

In October 2019, Lindsey Graham announced his intention to introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey if they were to invade Syria. Furthermore, he stated that he would call for Turkey's suspension from NATO if they attacked Kurdish forces who had assisted the United States in the fight against ISIS.

November 2019: Graham blocks Senate resolution on Armenian genocide

In November 2019, Lindsey Graham initially blocked a Senate resolution aimed at officially recognizing the Armenian genocide, a move that drew attention and criticism.

December 2019: Graham votes for resolution recognizing Armenian genocide

In December 2019, Lindsey Graham reversed his previous stance and voted in favor of the Senate resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. The resolution passed the Senate unanimously in December 2019.

December 2019: Graham signals his mind is made up on impeachment

In December 2019, as impeachment articles against Donald Trump moved forward, Lindsey Graham signaled his opposition to the impeachment, stating he was not trying to be a fair juror and wanted to make the trial die quickly.

2019: Became Chair of the Judiciary Committee

In 2019, Lindsey Graham became the chair of the Judiciary Committee.

2019: Chaired Senate Committee on the Judiciary

In 2019, Lindsey Graham became the chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

May 2020: Statement on Supreme Court Nominee Confirmation

In May 2020, Lindsey Graham stated that the Senate would move to confirm a Supreme Court nominee should a vacancy arise before the November election, distinguishing it from the Merrick Garland situation.

August 2020: Comments on Changed Rules After Kavanaugh Confirmation

In August 2020, Lindsey Graham commented that after Kavanaugh's confirmation, the rules had changed as far as he was concerned.

September 2020: Support for Immediate Vote on Supreme Court Nominee

In September 2020, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lindsey Graham expressed support for the Senate immediately voting on Trump's nominee to succeed her, a stance The New York Times called a reversal of his earlier position.

2020: Graham denies Biden's Victory

Even after all major news networks projected that Joe Biden had won the 2020 United States presidential election, Lindsey Graham said that Donald Trump "should not concede" and donated $500,000 to Trump's election lawsuits.

2020: Sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act

In 2020, Graham sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which aimed to facilitate farmers' participation in carbon trading markets by simplifying the process of selling carbon credits.

2020: Defeated Jaime Harrison in Senate election

In 2020, Lindsey Graham defeated Jaime Harrison in the Senate election by more than ten percentage points.

2020: Declined to Sign Amicus Brief on Roe v. Wade

In 2020, Lindsey Graham was one of 13 Republican senators who declined to sign an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.

2020: Reelected to U.S. Senate

In 2020, Lindsey Graham was reelected to the U.S. Senate.

2020: Graham calls for investigation of voting irregularities

In 2020, after receiving an affidavit alleging backdating mail ballots, Lindsey Graham issued a statement that "all credible allegations of voting irregularities and misconduct be investigated to ensure the integrity of the 2020 elections."

2020: Graham calls Georgia Secretary of State about vote counting

In 2020, while a recount was ongoing in Georgia, Lindsey Graham called the Georgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, to discuss the vote counting process.

2020: Trump endorses Graham

In April 2024, Donald Trump expressed regret for endorsing Lindsey Graham in his 2020 Senate campaign.

2020: Graham eyes Senate re-election

In February 2019, Lindsey Graham stated that a good relationship with Donald Trump would help his prospects of reelection to the Senate in 2020.

2020: Trump's reelection

Lindsey Graham said he would support Trump's reelection in 2020 in April 2018.

January 6, 2021: Graham rejects Trump's election denials

On January 6, 2021, after Trump supporters attacked the Capitol, Lindsey Graham disagreed with his Republican colleagues and acknowledged that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were lawfully elected.

February 2021: DA examines Graham's call to Raffensperger

In February 2021, The Washington Post reported that Fani Willis, the Fulton County, Georgia district attorney, was examining Lindsey Graham's phone call to Brad Raffensperger as part of a criminal investigation.

May 28, 2021: Graham votes against January 6 commission

On May 28, 2021, Lindsey Graham voted against creating the January 6 commission.

July 8, 2021: Called Biden's decision a "disaster in the making"

On July 8, 2021, Graham criticized Joe Biden's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, originally agreed to by the Trump administration, calling it a "disaster in the making" and predicting it would put the U.S. in danger and potentially lead to another 9/11.

2021: End of term as chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary

In 2021, Lindsey Graham's term as the chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary came to an end.

February 2022: Introduced Bipartisan Legislation on Child Sexual Abuse Material

In February 2022, Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal introduced bipartisan legislation, as part of the EARN IT Act, to incentivize tech companies to remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from their platforms and remove blanket immunity for violations of laws related to online child pornography.

March 3, 2022: Suggested that someone in Russia assassinate Putin

On March 3, 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Graham tweeted suggesting that someone in Russia should assassinate Vladimir Putin, which drew backlash from other politicians.

May 2022: Advocated Overturning Roe v. Wade

In May 2022, Lindsey Graham advocated that the Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade.

June 2022: Beliefs on Federal Government's Right to Regulate Abortion

In June 2022, Lindsey Graham asserted that conservatives believed there was nothing in the Constitution that gave the federal government the right to regulate abortion.

August 2022: Statement on States' Rights on Abortion Issue

In August 2022, Lindsey Graham stated that "states should decide the issue of abortion" and claimed that he had "been consistent" on this stance.

September 2022: Introduced Federal Ban on Abortion After 15 Weeks

In September 2022, despite previous statements that abortion should be a states' rights issue, Lindsey Graham introduced legislation to institute a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the patient.

2022: Reiterated Support of the Defense of Marriage Act

In 2022, Lindsey Graham reiterated his support of the Defense of Marriage Act.

2022: Support for Bipartisan Gun Control Agreement

In 2022, Lindsey Graham was one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, which included various provisions such as red flag laws, funding for school safety resources, and stronger background checks.

January 28, 2023: Graham appears at Trump's rally

On January 28, 2023, Lindsey Graham appeared at Donald Trump's first prime-time 2024 campaign rally and told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he would support Trump.

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May 26, 2023: Made comments about the war

On May 26, 2023, an edited video released by the Office of the President of Ukraine showed Graham commenting to Volodymyr Zelenskyy that "the Russians are dying" and that American military assistance to Ukraine was the "best money we've ever spent", which led to criticism before the full, unedited interview was released.

May 29, 2023: Russian Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Graham

On May 29, 2023, the Russian Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Graham due to his comments about the war. Graham responded by stating that he would wear the arrest warrant as a "Badge of Honor" and would submit to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if Russia attempted to serve the warrant.

October 10, 2023: Stood with Israel during the Gaza war

On October 10, 2023, Graham stated that he "unapologetically stand[s] with Israel" during the Gaza war, calling the conflict a "religious war" and suggesting that Gaza should be "flattened".

October 31, 2023: Stated that civilian casualties in Gaza would not lead him to question Israel's goal of eradicating Hamas

On October 31, 2023, Graham stated that no amount of civilian casualties in Gaza would lead him to question Israel's goal of eradicating Hamas.

November 2023: Co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act

In November 2023, Graham and Bill Cassidy co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act, which proposed a carbon tariff on energy and industrial imports from countries with higher greenhouse gas emissions than the United States.

2023: Graham votes against Fiscal Responsibility Act

In 2023, Lindsey Graham was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

2023: Lugar Center ranks Graham for bipartisanship

In 2023, the Lugar Center ranked Lindsey Graham in the top third of senators for bipartisanship.

February 13, 2024: Voted against the Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan appropriations bill

On February 13, 2024, Graham voted against the Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan appropriations bill because it included an effort by senators James Lankford, Kyrsten Sinema, and Chuck Schumer to control the US-Mexico border.

March 9, 2024: Called for destruction of Palestinian school system

On March 9, 2024, Graham said that Palestinian children had been taught to kill all the Jews and somebody needs to pull the Palestinian school system up by its roots and destroy it.

April 2024: Graham criticizes Trump on abortion

In April 2024, Lindsey Graham criticized Donald Trump for not supporting a federal abortion ban. Trump expressed regret for endorsing Graham in his 2020 Senate campaign.

May 8, 2024: Warned against halting arms supply to Israel and made controversial comments

On May 8, 2024, Graham warned the Pentagon against halting arms supply to Israel during the Gaza war, stating, "Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can't afford to lose. This is Hiroshima and Nagasaki on steroids." This statement caused a debate in the Japanese National Diet.

May 2024: Graham says he would accept the election results

In May 2024, when asked whether he would accept the results of the presidential election, Lindsey Graham said he would "if there's no massive cheating".

July 2024: Graham comments on Biden's decision not to seek reelection

In July 2024, after President Biden announced he would not seek reelection, Lindsey Graham said he wished Biden well and appreciated his lifelong service to the nation.

September 2024: Graham lobbies for winner-take-all electoral system in Nebraska

In September 2024, Lindsey Graham lobbied Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen to call a special session to adopt a winner-take-all system for Electoral College votes.

October 2024: Graham criticizes Harris and Biden's immigration policy

In October 2024, Lindsey Graham criticized Kamala Harris as the "most radical nominee" and argued that the Biden-Harris immigration policy was a larger "danger to this country" than Trump's rhetoric.

2024: Graham campaigns for Trump

In 2024 Lindsey Graham campaigned and publicly advocated for Donald Trump on news programs and called on other prominent Republican politicians to campaign for Trump.

2024: Graham calls Trump's 2024 election victory the biggest comeback in American history

In 2024, Lindsey Graham called Donald Trump's 2024 election victory "the biggest comeback in American history".

January 14, 2025: Announced Officials for 2026 Reelection Campaign

On January 14, 2025, Lindsey Graham announced lead officials for his 2026 reelection campaign, and reported $15.6 million in campaign fundraising.

January 2025: Graham criticizes Trump's actions as president

In January 2025, Lindsey Graham took issue with a series of Donald Trump's first actions as president, including pardons for January 6 attackers, removing security details, and firing Inspectors General.

June 1, 2025: Commented on Greta Thunberg's trip to Gaza

On June 1, 2025, in response to Greta Thunberg traveling on a ship bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza, Graham wrote on X: "Hope Greta and her friends can swim!"

2025: Supported secondary sanctions against Russia

In 2025, Graham supported secondary sanctions against Russia that would impose 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, natural gas, uranium, and other exports.

2026: planning reelection campaign

Lindsey Graham is planning his reelection campaign in 2026.