Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Lindsey Graham

How Lindsey Graham built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Lindsey Graham is an American politician and attorney, currently serving as a senior United States Senator for South Carolina since 2003. Affiliated with the Republican Party, he previously held the position of Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2019 to 2021. Graham's career is primarily defined by his long tenure in the Senate and leadership roles within the Republican party.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1982: Joined U.S. Air Force

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

1982: Commissioned as Officer

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

1988: Served as Assistant County Attorney

From 1988, after his service in Europe, Graham returned to South Carolina and served as assistant county attorney for Oconee County until 1992.

1988: Left Active Duty in Air Force

In 1988, Graham concluded his active duty service in the United States Air Force.

1989: Left Active Duty in Air Force

In 1989, 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, Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard.

1990: Served as City Attorney

From 1990, Graham served as the city attorney for Central until 1994.

1990: Recalled to Active Duty

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

1991: Served at McEntire Air National Guard Station

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

1992: End of Service as Assistant County Attorney

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

1992: Elected to SC House of Representatives

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

1993: Began Term in SC House

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

1993: Joined South Carolina House of Representatives

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

1994: End of Service as City Attorney

In 1994, Graham concluded his service as the city attorney for Central.

1994: Elected to U.S. House

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

1994: Write-in Votes in Election

In 1994, write-in candidates received 13 votes.

1995: Joined U.S. House of Representatives

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

1995: Joined U.S. Air Force Reserve

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

1995: End of Term in SC House

In 1995, Graham's term in the South Carolina House of Representatives concluded.

1996: Graham votes for Defense of Marriage Act

In 1996, Graham voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman at the federal level.

1996: Re-elected to U.S. House

In 1996, Graham was re-elected to the U.S. House, defeating Debbie Dorn.

November 1997: Co-sponsored Impeachment Resolution

In November 1997, Graham co-sponsored a resolution by Bob Barr to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton.

1997: Took part in Leadership Challenge

In 1997, Graham participated in a leadership challenge against House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

October 8, 1998: Voted to Open Impeachment Inquiry

On October 8, 1998, Graham voted in favor of legislation to open an impeachment inquiry against President Bill Clinton.

1998: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

In 1998, Graham was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

1998: Re-elected to U.S. House

In 1998, Graham was re-elected to a third term in the U.S. House unopposed.

1998: Graham's statements during the impeachment of Bill Clinton

In December 2019, Democrats referenced statements Lindsey Graham made during the 1998 impeachment of Bill Clinton regarding presidential subpoenas and impeachment.

2000: Re-elected to U.S. House

In 2000, Graham was re-elected to a fourth term in the U.S. House, defeating George Brightharp.

2000: Support for John McCain for President

In 2000, Lindsey Graham supported John McCain for president.

2000: Natural Law Candidate LeRoy J. Klein and Write-in Votes

In 2000, Natural Law candidate LeRoy J. Klein received 1,122 votes, and write-in candidates received 33 votes.

2002: Graham voted for the Iraq Resolution

In 2002, Graham voted in favor of the Iraq Resolution, authorizing military action against Iraq.

2002: Elected to U.S. Senate

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

2003: Became U.S. Senator

In 2003, Lindsey Graham began serving as the senior United States Senator from South Carolina, a seat he has held since.

June 2004: Supreme Court decision on detainee petitions

In June 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed detainees to file habeas corpus petitions to challenge their detentions, prompting Graham to author an amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act to clarify the authority of American courts.

2004: Promoted to Colonel

In 2004, Graham was promoted to colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve at a White House ceremony, officiated by President George W. Bush, and a lower court deemed his service as a military judge while a sitting member of the Senate acceptable.

May 23, 2005: Graham part of Gang of 14 senators

On May 23, 2005, Graham was part of the Gang of 14 senators forging a compromise on judicial nominees, halting the blockage of up-or-down votes and negating both the Democrats' filibuster and the Republican "nuclear option".

July 2005: Graham secured declassification of Guantanamo Bay memos

In July 2005, Graham secured the declassification and release of memoranda outlining concerns made by senior military lawyers about the legality of interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.

November 2005: Graham amendment on detainee rights passed

In November 2005, Graham's amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act, attempting to clarify the authority of American courts regarding detainee rights, passed in the Senate despite opposition.

February 2006: Graham files amicus brief in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld case

In February 2006, 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 pending cases brought by Guantanamo detainees.

2006: Graham supports McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill of 2006

In 2006, Graham was a supporter of S. 2611, the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill.

2006: Court Ruling Set Aside

In 2006, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces set aside a lower court's ruling that Graham could serve as a military judge, concluding it was improper for Graham to serve as a military judge.

2007: Served in Iraq as Reservist

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

2007: Graham supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007

In 2007, Graham supported S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.

2007: Graham's influence reached its zenith

In 2007, Graham's influence reached its zenith as President Bush advocated for his surge strategy in Iraq.

2008: Graham faces primary challenge but wins nomination

In 2008, Graham faced a primary challenge from Buddy Witherspoon due to his immigration positions, but won the nomination by a large margin.

2008: Re-elected to U.S. Senate

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

2008: National Co-Chair of McCain's Presidential Campaign

In 2008, Lindsey Graham served as the national co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign.

August 2009: Served in Afghanistan

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

August 2009: Served as Legal Adviser in Iraq and Afghanistan

From August 2009 to July 2014, Graham served as a senior legal adviser to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan.

December 10, 2009: Graham co-sponsored letter committing to climate change bill, then withdrew support

On December 10, 2009, 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, casting doubt on the bill's passage.

December 2009: Graham votes against the Affordable Care Act

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

November 6, 2010: Graham called for preemptive military strike against Iran

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

December 2010: Graham voted against New START treaty

In December 2010, Graham was one of 26 senators who voted against the ratification of New START, a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and Russia.

2010: Campaign Contributions from Thornton Law Firm

Between 2010 and 2014, partners and one of their wives from the Thornton Law Firm contributed $1.6 million to politicians, with $1.4 million being reimbursed to the partners from the firm.

2010: Graham votes against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010

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

2010: Graham works with Schumer on immigration reform

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

August 2011: Graham co-sponsored resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Georgia

In August 2011, Graham co-sponsored a resolution asserting that Russia's invasion of Georgian land in 2008 was an act of aggression against new democracies.

2011: Graham supported US military presence in Iraq

In 2011, Graham voiced his support for a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq.

April 2012: Endorsement of Mitt Romney for President

In April 2012, after Rick Santorum withdrew from the race, leaving Mitt Romney as the presumptive nominee, Lindsey Graham endorsed Romney for president.

June 2012: Support for Closing Tax Loopholes

In June 2012, despite having signed Grover Norquist's Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Lindsey Graham went on record supporting the closure of tax loopholes without compensating decreases in other tax revenue, arguing that the country's debt necessitated compromising on ideological grounds.

November 2012: Graham and Schumer resume immigration talks

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

January 28, 2013: Graham joins bipartisan group for immigration reform

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

February 2013: Improved Approval Rating

In February 2013, Graham's approval rating improved, with a Winthrop poll showing a 59% positive rating among likely Republican voters.

February 28, 2013: Graham criticized budget reduction impact on Department of Defense

On February 28, 2013, Graham criticized Obama and both political parties for allowing budget reductions to occur, arguing that the impact on the Department of Defense would create a "hollow military" that "invites aggression."

March 2013: Graham introduces bill to flag people with insanity defense

In March 2013, Graham joined senators in introducing a bill to close a loophole by flagging people who attempt to buy guns who have used an insanity defense, were ruled dangerous by a court or had been committed by a court to mental health treatment.

June 23, 2013: Graham says Senate close to passing reform package

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

July 16, 2013: Graham suggested US boycott of Sochi Olympics

On July 16, 2013, Graham suggested the United States consider boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, due to concerns about the Russian government's actions.

July 25, 2013: Graham amendment on Edward Snowden asylum

On July 25, 2013, a Graham amendment to the Fiscal Year 2014 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, seeking sanctions against countries offering asylum to Edward Snowden, was unanimously adopted by the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations.

2013: Lieberman retired from the Senate

In 2013, Lieberman retired from the Senate.

July 2014: Served as Legal Adviser in Iraq and Afghanistan

From August 2009 to July 2014, Graham served as a senior legal adviser to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan.

October 2014: Hinting at a Presidential Run

During his Senate reelection race in October 2014, Lindsey Graham, while discussing immigration and foreign policy, suggested that he might run for president if no one else stepped up to address these issues.

2014: Campaign Contributions from Thornton Law Firm

Between 2010 and 2014, partners and one of their wives from the Thornton Law Firm contributed $1.6 million to politicians, with $1.4 million being reimbursed to the partners from the firm.

2014: Primary Challenge Anticipated

In 2014, Graham was considered one of the most vulnerable Republican senators up for reelection and expected a primary challenge.

March 7, 2015: Advocating 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 stated that, as President, he would use the military to keep Congress in session until the issue was resolved.

March 2015: Support for Saudi Arabian-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 their shared opposition to Iran.

April 19, 2015: Indicating Potential Presidential Run

On April 19, 2015, Lindsey Graham stated on Fox News Sunday that he was "91% sure" he would run for president if he could raise the necessary funds.

May 18, 2015: Informal Presidential Campaign Announcement

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 reason for running.

June 1, 2015: Announcement of Candidacy for President

On June 1, 2015, Lindsey Graham formally announced his candidacy for President of the United States.

June 17, 2015: Response to Charleston Church Shooting

Following the mass shooting at an African American church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, Lindsey Graham canceled campaign events to return to South Carolina. He addressed the controversy surrounding the Confederate flag, suggesting it was time for South Carolina to revisit its presence on the State Capitol grounds. He also attributed the shooting to the individual's actions, rather than external influences like books, movies, or symbols.

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December 2015: Dropped out of Presidential Race

In December 2015, Graham ended his campaign for the Republican nomination for president before the 2016 primaries.

December 21, 2015: Suspension of Presidential Campaign

On December 21, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended his presidential campaign due to lack of support and poor polling numbers.

2015: Retired from Air Force

In 2015, Graham retired from the Air Force with over 33 years of service, reaching the statutory retirement age of 60 for his rank.

2015: Graham sponsors Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

In 2015, Graham sponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in the Senate, which bans abortion after 20 weeks of gestation with some exceptions.

2015: Graham and Trump conflict

In 2015, Lindsey Graham had a conflict with Donald Trump, referenced when Graham gave Trump his new phone number in March 2017.

January 15, 2016: Endorsement of Jeb Bush

On January 15, 2016, Lindsey Graham endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for president.

February 2016: Graham Called Trump a 'Kook'

In February 2016, Lindsey Graham described Donald Trump as a 'kook,' 'crazy,' and 'unfit for office'.

May 2016: Opposition to Donald Trump's Candidacy

In May 2016, after it appeared certain that Donald Trump would become the Republican nominee, Lindsey Graham announced that he would not vote for Trump or Hillary Clinton.

November 8, 2016: Vote for Evan McMullin

On November 8, 2016, Lindsey Graham announced that he had voted for Evan McMullin in the presidential election.

2016: Report on 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 now facing scrutiny for some questionable campaign donation habits," referring to the Thornton Law Firm. The firm was known for asbestos-related litigation, and Graham received $62,800 in campaign contributions from the firm's partners over a ten-year period.

2016: Graham on filling Supreme Court vacancies

In 2016, after Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died, Republican senators boycotted Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland, with Graham arguing that Supreme Court vacancies should not be filled in a presidential election year.

2016: Liberation of the city from ISIS

In 2016, the Manbij Military Council led an offensive to liberate the city of Manbij from ISIS with help from the US-led coalition.

2016: Russian Interference in the election

In 2016, the investigation into Russian interference in the election began.

March 2017: Became Staunch Ally of Trump

After a meeting with Donald Trump in March 2017, Graham shifted his stance and became a staunch ally, publicly defending Trump.

March 2017: Graham votes for Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal

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

March 2017: Meeting with Trump

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

October 2017: Graham and Trump played golf together

In October 2017, Lindsey Graham and Donald Trump played golf together on multiple occasions, with Graham expressing praise for the first outing.

October 2017: Remarks on U.S. Military Presence in Niger After Tongo Tongo Ambush

In October 2017, following the Tongo Tongo ambush that resulted in the deaths of four U.S. soldiers, Lindsey Graham expressed surprise at the extent of U.S. troop presence in Niger, stating, "I didn't know there was a thousand troops in Niger." He later advocated for an expanded U.S. military role in Africa, indicating more frequent actions and increased aggression towards enemies, with decisions potentially being made in the field.

November 2017: Graham Criticized Media's Reporting on Trump

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

2017: Graham authors Graham-Cassidy amendment to repeal Obamacare

In 2017, Graham authored the Graham–Cassidy amendment to Republicans' repeal efforts of Obamacare, which would have given states permission to remove protections for individuals with preexisting conditions.

January 2018: Congressional Criminal Referral in Russian Interference Investigation

In January 2018, Lindsey Graham, along with Chuck Grassley, recommended charges against ex-MI6 officer Christopher Steele, author of the Steele dossier, for allegedly lying to federal authorities. This was the first known congressional criminal referral in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

April 2018: Graham Supports Trump's Reelection

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

April 2018: Introduction of Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act

In April 2018, following the FBI raid on Michael Cohen's offices, 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, with the possibility of reinstatement if deemed inappropriate.

May 2018: Graham votes against net neutrality legislation

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

July 2018: Visit to Manbij, Syria

In July 2018, Lindsey Graham, along with Senator Jeanne Shaheen, visited Manbij in Syria. They met with the Manbij Military Council, which had led an offensive to liberate the city from ISIS with support from the US-led coalition.

August 2018: Graham Denies Hearing Trump Make Racist Statements

In August 2018, The Washington Post reported Lindsey Graham's statement that he had never heard Donald Trump make a racist statement.

October 2018: Graham on Supreme Court Vacancies

In October 2018, Lindsey Graham said that "[i]f an opening comes in the last year of President Trump's term, and the primary process has started, we'll wait till the next election."

November 2018: Graham to Chair Judiciary Committee

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

2018: Graham says Roe v. Wade should not be overturned without good reason

In 2018, Graham was anti-abortion but stated that Roe v. Wade is precedent that should not be overturned without good reason.

2018: Graham responds to Christine Blasey Ford's allegations

In 2018, during Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Lindsey Graham strongly opposed delaying the process due to Christine Blasey Ford's sexual assault allegations. After Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Graham stated he was unmoved by her testimony, doubting her account that Kavanaugh assaulted her.

January 2019: Republicans must support Trump's policies

In January 2019, Lindsey Graham stated that Republicans must support Donald Trump's policies to avoid undermining his presidency and the party.

February 2019: Interview with The New York Times Magazine

In February 2019, Mark Leibovich interviewed Lindsey Graham for The New York Times Magazine. Graham discussed his support for Trump, seeking relevance, influencing Trump, and his relationship with Trump compared to his 'political marriage' with John McCain.

March 14, 2019: Blocking Resolution to Make Mueller's Report Public

On March 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham blocked a resolution that called for Robert Mueller's report to be made public, despite the resolution having passed unanimously in the House of Representatives.

May 14, 2019: Graham Encourages Donald Trump Jr. to Ignore Subpoena

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

May 2019: Graham proposes new immigration laws

In May 2019, Graham proposed new immigration laws that would limit asylum applications, streamline deportation of unaccompanied children, and extend migrant child detention periods.

June 2019: Vote to Block Trump's Saudi Arms Deal

In June 2019, Lindsey Graham was among a minority of Republicans who voted to block President Trump's Saudi arms deal, which aimed to provide weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. He also voted against an additional 20 arms sales.

June 25, 2019: Statement on Trump's Cooperation with Mueller Investigation

On June 25, 2019, Lindsey Graham stated that President Trump had provided 1.4 million documents to Mueller, and that Don McGahn, Trump's lawyer, testified for 30 hours, claiming Trump made everyone available and answered questions in writing, implying Trump did not hinder Mueller's investigation.

July 2019: Graham visits migrant detention center

In July 2019, Graham visited a migrant detention center in Texas, reacting that it was "a facility overwhelmed" and stating he didn't care if migrants had to stay there for 400 days.

July 2019: Graham Defends Trump Against Racism Accusations

In July 2019, Lindsey Graham defended Donald Trump, stating he did not believe Trump was racist or that his statements regarding Democratic congresswomen were racist.

July 24, 2019: Speculation on Mueller's Report

After Robert Mueller's testimony to congressional committees on July 24, 2019, Lindsey Graham speculated that the "Mueller report is in name only" and suggested it was not genuinely Mueller's work.

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

On October 8, 2019, Lindsey Graham condemned Donald Trump's announcement of an intention to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, stating it put the nation and his presidency at risk.

October 2019: Threat of Sanctions Against Turkey for Invading Syria

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

November 2019: Blocking of Senate Resolution on Armenian Genocide

In November 2019, Lindsey Graham blocked a Senate resolution aimed at officially recognizing the Armenian genocide.

December 2019: Graham Declares Impartiality in Trump Impeachment Trial

In December 2019, Lindsey Graham stated he had already made up his mind regarding the impeachment articles against Trump, expressing disdain for the accusations and process and a desire for a quick dismissal in the Senate.

December 2019: Vote for Senate Resolution on Armenian Genocide

In December 2019, Lindsey Graham voted in favor of a resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide, which subsequently passed the Senate unanimously.

2019: Graham becomes chair of the Judiciary Committee

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

2019: Chaired Senate Judiciary Committee

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

May 2020: Graham comments on Supreme Court nominee confirmation

In May 2020, Graham stated that the Senate would proceed with confirming a Supreme Court nominee should a vacancy occur before the November election, differentiating the situation from Merrick Garland's nomination due to party control differences.

August 2020: Graham states that rules have changed

In August 2020, Lindsey Graham stated that "[a]fter Kavanaugh's confirmation, the rules have changed as far as I'm concerned."

September 2020: Graham supports immediate vote on Supreme Court nominee

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

2020: Graham Challenges US election system

In 2020, Even after all major news networks projected that Joe Biden had won the 2020 United States presidential election, Graham said that Trump "should not concede" because "if Republicans don't challenge and change the U.S. election system, there will never be another Republican president elected again".

2020: Re-elected to Senate

In 2020, Graham defeated Jaime Harrison in the Senate election.

2020: Graham calls Georgia Secretary of State

In 2020, Graham privately called the Georgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger to discuss Georgia's vote counting.

2020: Graham sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act

In 2020, Graham sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act, a bill designed to facilitate the sale of carbon credits by farmers on existing carbon trading markets in California and the Northeast.

2020: Graham declines to sign amicus brief to overturn Roe

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

2020: Graham Calls for Investigation of Voting Irregularities

In 2020, after receiving an affidavit by Pennsylvania postal worker Richard Hopkins alleging that his postmaster discussed 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", including Hopkins's.

2020: Graham supports Trump's reelection

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

2020: Trump endorsed Graham's Senate campaign

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

2020: Graham's reelection prospects

In February 2019, Graham mentioned his good relationship with Trump would help his prospects of reelection to the Senate in 2020.

January 6, 2021: Graham Speaks Out Against Delaying Election Results

On January 6, 2021, after the attack on the United States Capitol, Lindsey Graham spoke against delaying the election results, stating that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were lawfully elected and would become President and Vice President.

February 2021: Investigation into Graham's Phone Call

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 into possible efforts to illegally overturn Georgia's election results.

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: Graham called Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal 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 first Trump administration, calling it a "disaster in the making".

August 2021: Graham Calls Biden After Election

In August 2021, The New York Times reported that Lindsey Graham called Joe Biden after the election to revive their friendship and allegedly said he called for a special counsel investigation of Biden's son Hunter to appease Trump supporters.

2021: End of Judiciary Committee Chairmanship

In 2021, Lindsey Graham's tenure as chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary concluded.

February 2022: Graham introduces bipartisan legislation on child sexual abuse material

In February 2022, 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.

May 2022: Graham advocates Supreme Court overturn Roe

In May 2022, Graham advocated that the Supreme Court overturn Roe to ensure that "every state will decide if abortion is legal and on what terms".

June 2022: Graham asserts conservatives belief on abortion regulation

In June 2022, Graham asserted that all conservatives "believed that there's nothing in the Constitution giving the federal government the right to regulate abortion".

August 2022: Graham says states should decide on abortion

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

September 2022: Graham introduces federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks

In September 2022, 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, contradicting his prior stance on states' rights.

2022: Graham supports bipartisan agreement on gun control

In 2022, Graham became one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, including a red flag provision, funding for school safety, and stronger background checks.

2022: Graham reiterates support of the Defense of Marriage Act

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

January 28, 2023: Graham Appears at Trump 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.

November 2023: Graham co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act

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

2023: Vote Against the Fiscal Responsibility Act

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

2023: Lugar Center Ranking

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

April 2024: Graham Criticizes Trump on Abortion Ban

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

May 2024: Graham on Accepting Election Results

In May 2024, Lindsey Graham said he would accept the results of the presidential election "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.

September 2024: Graham Lobbies for Winner-Take-All 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, but the move failed.

October 2024: Graham Criticizes Harris and Biden Immigration Policy

In October 2024, Lindsey Graham criticized Republican voters supporting Harris and argued that the Biden-Harris immigration policy was a larger danger than Trump's rhetoric.

2024: Graham Calls Trump's Election Victory the Biggest Comeback in American History

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

2024: Graham advocated for Trump

In 2024, Graham campaigned and publicly advocated for Trump on news programs like Meet The Press throughout the 2024 election.

January 14, 2025: Announced Lead Officials for Reelection Campaign

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

January 2025: Graham Disagrees with Trump's Actions as President

In January 2025, Lindsey Graham disagreed with several of Donald Trump's first actions as president, including pardons for January 6 attack participants, the removal of security details for John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, and violating the law by not giving Congress 30 days' notice before firing 17 Inspectors General.