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 a prominent American politician and attorney currently serving as the senior United States Senator from South Carolina since 2003. As a member of the Republican Party, he held the influential position of Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2019 to 2021, marking a significant period in his senatorial career. His long tenure and chairmanship underscore his established presence and influence within the American political landscape.
1966: Fritz Hollings Became Senator
In 1966, Fritz Hollings became a U.S. Senator. Lindsey Graham became South Carolina's first new U.S. senator since Hollings.
1973: Handling of Abortion Issue
In May 2022, Graham advocated that the Supreme Court overturn Roe to ensure that this was "the way the United States handled the issue until 1973."
1982: Joined the 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 JAG Corps Officer
In 1982, after graduating from law school, Lindsey Graham was commissioned as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the United States Air Force and began active duty.
1984: Featured on 60 Minutes
In 1984, Lindsey Graham was featured on an episode of 60 Minutes while defending an Air Force pilot, which exposed the Air Force's defective drug-testing procedures.
1988: Served as Assistant County Attorney
From 1988, after his service in Europe, Lindsey Graham returned to South Carolina, and served as assistant county attorney for Oconee County.
1988: End of Active Duty in Air Force
In 1988, Lindsey Graham's active duty in the United States Air Force ended.
1989: Left Active Duty and Entered Private Practice
In 1989, Lindsey Graham left active duty in the Air Force and entered private practice as a lawyer.
1989: Joined SC Air National Guard
In 1989, after leaving the Air Force, Lindsey Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard.
1990: Recalled to Active Duty for Gulf War
During the 1990 Gulf War, Lindsey Graham was recalled to active duty, serving as a judge advocate at McEntire Air National Guard Station.
1990: City Attorney for Central
In 1990, Lindsey Graham became the city attorney for Central.
1991: Served as Judge Advocate During Gulf War
In 1991, Lindsey Graham served as a judge advocate at McEntire Air National Guard Station during the Gulf War, briefing pilots on the laws of war.
1992: Elected to SC House of Representatives
In 1992, Lindsey Graham was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 2nd district.
1992: End of Service as Assistant County Attorney
In 1992, Lindsey Graham's service as assistant county attorney for Oconee County came to an end.
1993: Began Term in SC House
In 1993, Lindsey Graham began his term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
1993: Served in SC House of Representatives
In 1993, Lindsey Graham began serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
1994: Elected to U.S. House
In 1994, Lindsey Graham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first Republican to represent the district since 1877.
1994: End of Service as City Attorney
In 1994, Lindsey Graham's tenure as city attorney for Central ended.
1995: Served in US House of Representatives
In 1995, Lindsey Graham began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
1995: Joined US Air Force Reserve
In 1995, Lindsey 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, Lindsey Graham's term in the South Carolina House of Representatives ended.
1996: Vote for Defense of Marriage Act
In 1996, Lindsey Graham voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage as between one man and one woman.
1996: Reelected to 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 in the Air Force Reserve.
1998: Reelected to House of Representatives
In 1998, Lindsey Graham was reelected to a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, running unopposed.
2000: Graham supported John McCain for president
In 2000, Lindsey Graham supported John McCain in his run for president.
2000: Reelected to House of Representatives
In 2000, Lindsey Graham was reelected to a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating George Brightharp.
2002: Vote for the Iraq Resolution
In 2002, Lindsey Graham voted for the Iraq Resolution, which authorized military action against Iraq, demonstrating his support for interventionist foreign policy.
2002: Elected to the U.S. Senate
In 2002, Lindsey Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate after Strom Thurmond retired.
2003: Became Senator
In 2003, Lindsey Graham became the senior United States senator from South Carolina, a seat he has held since then.
2003: End of US House of Representatives service
In 2003, Lindsey Graham's service in the U.S. House of Representatives ended.
2003: Concerns About Legality of Interrogations
In July 2005, Graham secured the declassification and release of memoranda outlining concerns made by senior military lawyers as early as 2003 about the legality of the interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.
June 2004: Response to Supreme Court Decision on Detainee Rights
In June 2004, in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing detainees to file habeas corpus petitions, Lindsey Graham authored an amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act.
2004: Promoted to Colonel
In 2004, Lindsey Graham was promoted to colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve during a White House ceremony.
May 23, 2005: Compromise on Judicial Nominees
On May 23, 2005, Lindsey Graham was part of the Gang of 14 senators who forged a compromise to halt the blockage of judicial nominees, negating both the Democrats' filibuster and the Republican "nuclear option".
July 2005: Securing Declassification of Guantanamo Bay Interrogation Concerns
In July 2005, Lindsey Graham secured the declassification and release of memoranda outlining concerns made by senior military lawyers as early as 2003 about the legality of interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.
November 2005: Amendment to Defense Authorization Act
In November 2005, Lindsey Graham's amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act passed in the Senate by a vote of 49-42. The amendment attempted to clarify the authority of American courts regarding detainees but was opposed by human rights groups and legal scholars.
2005: Detainee Treatment Act of 2005
In February 2006, Graham joined Senator Jon Kyl in filing an amicus brief in the Hamdan v. Rumsfeld case that argued "Congress was aware" that the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 would strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to hear "pending cases, including this case" brought by Guantanamo detainees.
February 2006: Amicus Brief in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld
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 that the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 would strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to hear cases brought by Guantanamo detainees.
2006: Support for Constitutional Amendment Opposing Same-Sex Marriage
In 2006, Lindsey Graham voted in support of a constitutional amendment opposing marriage between same-sex couples, advocating for the traditional definition of marriage and aiming to prevent judges from establishing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.
2006: Support of S. 2611, the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill of 2006
In 2006, Lindsey Graham was a supporter of S. 2611, the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill of 2006.
2006: Court Ruling on Military Judge Service
In 2006, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces set aside a lower court's ruling, concluding that it was improper for Lindsey Graham to serve as a military judge while a sitting member of the Senate.
2007: Served in Iraq as Reservist
In 2007, Lindsey Graham served in Iraq as a reservist on active duty, working on detainee and rule-of-law issues.
2007: Support of S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007
In 2007, Lindsey Graham was a supporter of S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007.
2007: Influence on Bush's Surge Strategy
In 2007, Lindsey Graham, along with John McCain and Joe Lieberman (dubbed "the three amigos"), reached the zenith of their influence as President Bush advocated for his surge strategy in Iraq.
2008: Primary Challenge
In 2008, Lindsey Graham faced a primary challenge from Buddy Witherspoon due to his immigration positions, but he won the nomination.
2008: Graham served as national co-chair of McCain's presidential campaign
In 2008, Lindsey Graham served as the national co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign.
2008: Re-elected to U.S. Senate
In 2008, Lindsey Graham was re-elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating Buddy Witherspoon in the primary and Bob Conley in the general election.
2008: Russia's invasion of Georgian land
In 2008, Russia invaded Georgian land, which later in 2011 Graham co-sponsored a resolution that asserted that Russia's invasion of Georgian land was an act of aggression against Georgia and all new democracies.
August 2009: Served in Afghanistan
During the August 2009 Senate recess, Lindsey Graham served in Afghanistan.
December 10, 2009: Co-sponsorship of Climate Change Bill Letter
On December 10, 2009, Lindsey Graham, along with senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, co-sponsored a letter to President Obama expressing commitment to passing a climate change bill and outlining its framework.
December 2009: Vote Against the Affordable Care Act
In December 2009, Lindsey Graham voted against the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
June 2010: Comments on Global Warming Science and Climate Bill
In June 2010, Lindsey Graham stated that the science about global warming had changed, expressing skepticism and announcing his intention to vote against the climate bill he had initially co-sponsored, citing concerns about offshore drilling restrictions.
July 2010: Suggestion to Amend 14th Amendment
In July 2010, Lindsey Graham suggested amending the 14th Amendment regarding birthright citizenship and proposed that children born to illegal immigrants in the U.S. should be considered illegal immigrants.
November 6, 2010: Call for Preemptive Military Strike Against Iran
On November 6, 2010, Lindsey Graham called for a preemptive military strike to weaken the Iranian regime.
December 2010: Vote Against Ratification of New START Treaty
In December 2010, Lindsey Graham was among the senators who voted against the ratification of the New START treaty, a nuclear arms reduction agreement between the U.S. and Russia.
2010: Vote Against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act
In 2010, Lindsey Graham voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.
2010: Talks with Chuck Schumer on Immigration Reform
In early 2010, Lindsey Graham began working with Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer on immigration reform, but the talks broke down later that year.
August 2011: Co-sponsorship of Resolution on Russia's Invasion of Georgia
In August 2011, Lindsey Graham co-sponsored a resolution that asserted that Russia's invasion of Georgian land in 2008 was an act of aggression against Georgia and all new democracies.
2011: Kelly Ayotte Joins the Group
In 2011, Kelly Ayotte joined the Senate and was considered Lieberman's replacement in "the three amigos" group.
2011: Support for Continuing U.S. Military Presence in Iraq
In 2011, Lindsey Graham voiced his support for a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq, emphasizing the need for American troops to remain in the country.
April 2012: Graham endorses Mitt Romney after Santorum withdraws
In April 2012, after Rick Santorum withdrew from the race, leaving Mitt Romney as the presumptive nominee, Lindsey Graham endorsed Romney.
June 2012: Graham supports closing tax loopholes
Despite having signed Grover Norquist's Taxpayer Protection Pledge in June 2012, Lindsey Graham expressed support for closing tax loopholes without compensating decreases in other tax revenue, citing the country's debt and the need to compromise ideological positions.
November 2012: Resumption of Immigration Reform Talks
In November 2012, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Schumer resumed their talks on comprehensive immigration reform.
2012: Comment on US troops in Iraq
In 2012, Lindsey Graham says that if we're not smart enough to work with the Iraqis to have 10,000 to 15,000 American troops in Iraq Iraq could go to hell.
2012: Benghazi Attack
In 2012, the Benghazi attack occurred, later Graham said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "got away with murder" after her testimony about the attack.
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: Statement on Hillary Clinton and Benghazi Attack
On January 29, 2013, Lindsey Graham said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "got away with murder" after her testimony about the 2012 Benghazi attack.
February 2013: Approval Rating improved
In February 2013, Lindsey Graham's approval rating improved to 59% among likely Republican voters, according to a Winthrop poll.
February 28, 2013: Criticism of Budget Reduction and Impact on Defense
On February 28, 2013, Lindsey Graham criticized President Obama and both political parties for allowing budget reductions that exempted a large portion of the budget, warning of a "hollow military" and increased aggression.
March 2013: Introduction of Bill to Close Gun Purchase Loophole
In March 2013, Lindsey Graham joined senators in introducing a bill that would close a loophole by flagging people who attempt to buy guns who have used an insanity defense.
June 23, 2013: Senate Vote on Reform Package
On June 23, 2013, Lindsey Graham said that the Senate was close to obtaining 70 votes to pass the immigration reform package.
July 16, 2013: Suggestion of Boycott of 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi
On July 16, 2013, Lindsey Graham suggested the United States should consider boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, due to actions by the Russian government.
July 25, 2013: Amendment on Sanctions for Edward Snowden Asylum
On July 25, 2013, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations unanimously adopted an amendment by Lindsey Graham to the Fiscal Year 2014 Appropriations Bill that sought sanctions against any country offering asylum to Edward Snowden.
2013: Changes to Senate Rules
In 2013, Democrats had changed Senate rules to allow a simple majority vote for nominees to United States courts of appeals, which Graham cited in September 2020.
2013: Decline in Influence Before Lieberman's Retirement
In 2013, shortly before Joe Lieberman's retirement from the Senate, the influence of Graham, McCain, and Lieberman began to decline.
July 2014: End of service as senior legal advisor
In July 2014, Lindsey Graham's service as a senior legal advisor to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan ended.
October 2014: Graham hints at presidential run
During his Senate reelection race in October 2014, Lindsey Graham mentioned to The Weekly Standard that he might consider joining the presidential race if no one else addressed key issues like immigration and foreign policy.
2014: Potential Boycott of Winter Olympics in Sochi
In 2014, Lindsey Graham suggested the United States should consider boycotting the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, due to actions by the Russian government.
2014: Reelected to US Senate
In 2014, Lindsey Graham was reelected to the U.S. Senate.
2014: Fiscal Year 2014
In July 25, 2013, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations unanimously adopted an amendment by Graham to the Fiscal Year 2014 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill that sought sanctions against any country that offered asylum to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
March 7, 2015: Graham advocates reversal of defense spending cuts
On March 7, 2015, at a "Politics and Pies" forum, Lindsey Graham advocated the reversal of defense spending cuts and quipped that as President, he would use the military to keep Congress in town until they fixed the issue.
March 2015: Graham supports 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: Graham indicates he is "91% sure" he will run for president
On April 19, 2015, Lindsey Graham stated in an interview with Chris Wallace 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 announces presidential run on CBS This Morning
On May 18, 2015, Lindsey Graham informally announced his candidacy for president on CBS This Morning, stating that he was running because he believed "the world is falling apart."
June 1, 2015: Graham announces candidacy for President
On June 1, 2015, Lindsey Graham officially announced his candidacy for President of the United States.
June 17, 2015: Graham responds to Charleston church shooting
After the mass shooting at a historic African American church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended campaign events to return to South Carolina. He addressed the debate over the Confederate flag at the State Capitol grounds, saying it was time for South Carolinians to revisit that decision, acknowledging the flag's complex symbolism.
December 2015: Dropped out of Presidential Race
In December 2015, Lindsey Graham dropped out of the Republican nomination for president before the 2016 primaries.
December 21, 2015: Graham suspends 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, Lindsey Graham retired from the Air Force as a 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 bans abortion after 20 weeks of gestation on a national basis, with some exceptions.
2015: Acceptance of Climate Change Reality
In 2015, Lindsey Graham stated he understands and accepts that climate change is real, but expressed uncertainty about the role of human activity.
January 15, 2016: Graham endorses Jeb Bush
On January 15, 2016, Lindsey Graham endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for president.
May 2016: Graham announces he will not vote for Trump or Clinton
In May 2016, after it became apparent 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 direction.
November 8, 2016: Graham votes for Evan McMullin
On November 8, 2016, Lindsey Graham announced that he had voted for Evan McMullin for president.
2016: Graham received campaign money from Thornton Law Firm
In 2016, The Boston Globe reported that Graham was "the only Republican recipient of money from a major Democratic donor now facing scrutiny for some questionable campaign donation habits". Graham received $62,800 in campaign contributions from the Thornton Law Firm's partners.
2016: Graham's Pledge
In September 2020, The New York Times reported that Graham's position was a reversal of his 2016 pledge.
January 5, 2017: Condemnation of Obama for Abstaining from UN Security Council Resolution 2334
On January 5, 2017, Lindsey Graham condemned President Obama for abstaining from UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement building.
March 2017: Became an Ally of Donald Trump
After a March 2017 meeting with Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham became a staunch ally of his.
March 2017: Meeting with Trump
In March 2017, Lindsey Graham met with Donald Trump and considered it a successful meeting, so much so that he gave Trump his new phone number as a gesture, alluding to their previous disagreements in 2015.
March 2017: Vote for Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal
In March 2017, Lindsey 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.
October 2017: Graham's statement on U.S. troops in Niger and military role expansion
In October 2017, following the Tongo Tongo ambush where four U.S. soldiers died, Lindsey Graham expressed his unawareness of the presence of a thousand troops in Niger. He then advocated for a greater role of the U.S. military in Niger, stating that there would be more actions and aggression by the U.S. in Africa, with decisions being made in the field.
2017: Authoring Graham-Cassidy Amendment
In 2017, Lindsey Graham played a leading role in efforts to repeal Obamacare, authoring the Graham–Cassidy amendment to Republicans' repeal efforts.
January 2018: Graham recommends charges against Christopher Steele
In January 2018, Lindsey Graham, along with Chuck Grassley, recommended charges against ex-MI6 officer Christopher Steele, the 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 campaign 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 and hotel room, Lindsey Graham, along with Cory Booker, Chris Coons, and Thom Tillis, introduced new legislation called the "Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act". This bill aimed to limit President Trump's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller by allowing an expedited judicial review of any dismissal, potentially reinstating the special counsel if the dismissal was deemed inappropriate.
May 2018: Vote Against Net Neutrality Restoration
In May 2018, Lindsey Graham voted against legislation that would have overturned the FCC's ruling and restored net neutrality.
July 2018: Graham visits Manbij in Syria
In July 2018, Lindsey Graham, together 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 in 2016 with support from the US-led coalition.
November 2018: Named Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee
In November 2018, it was announced that Lindsey Graham would become chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
2018: Anti-Abortion Stance and Roe v. Wade
In 2018, Lindsey Graham was anti-abortion but said that Roe v. Wade is precedent that should not be overturned without good reason.
2018: Response to Christine Blasey Ford's allegations
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. After Ford's testimony, Graham expressed doubt about her recollection and Kavanaugh's involvement.
January 2019: Graham Urges Republican Support for Trump
In January 2019, Lindsey Graham emphasized the importance of Republicans supporting Donald Trump's policies, asserting that undermining the president would lead to the end of his presidency and the Republican 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 explained that he supported Trump "to be relevant", to get good outcomes for the country, and to gain influence with Trump, aiming for a level on par with Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner. He mentioned liking Trump personally, playing golf with him, and that a good relationship would aid his Senate reelection prospects in 2020.
March 11, 2019: Encouragement to Recognize Golan Heights as Part of Israel
On March 11, 2019, Lindsey Graham said he would encourage the Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights, internationally recognized as part of Syria, 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 had passed the House unanimously, which called for Robert Mueller's report to be made public.
May 2019: Proposed New Immigration Laws
In May 2019, Lindsey Graham proposed new immigration laws that would restrict asylum applications, streamline deportation of unaccompanied children, and extend detention periods for migrant children.
June 2019: Graham votes 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 involved providing weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. He also voted against additional arms sales.
June 25, 2019: Graham defends Trump's cooperation with Mueller investigation
On June 25, 2019, Lindsey Graham defended President Trump's cooperation with the Mueller investigation, stating that the president provided 1.4 million documents and made individuals available for testimony, including his lawyer Don McGahn, to facilitate Mueller's pursuit of the truth.
July 2019: Visit to Migrant Detention Center
In July 2019, Lindsey Graham visited a migrant detention center in Texas and reacted that it was not "a concentration camp" but "a facility overwhelmed".
July 24, 2019: Graham speculates on the Mueller report after Mueller's testimony
Following Robert Mueller's testimony to congressional committees on July 24, 2019, Lindsey Graham suggested that the "Mueller report" was only in name, implying that it was not genuinely the work of Robert Mueller himself.
October 2019: Graham threatens sanctions against Turkey over Syria invasion
In October 2019, Lindsey Graham announced that he would introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey if they invaded 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 destruction of the ISIS Caliphate.
November 2019: Graham blocks Senate resolution on Armenian genocide
In November 2019, Lindsey Graham blocked a Senate resolution aimed at officially recognizing the Armenian genocide.
December 2019: Graham votes for Armenian genocide resolution
In December 2019, Lindsey Graham reversed his previous stance and voted in favor of a resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. The resolution passed the Senate unanimously.
2019: Chair of the Judiciary Committee
In 2019, Lindsey Graham became the chair of the Judiciary Committee.
2019: Chaired the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
In 2019, Lindsey Graham became the chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
May 2020: Senate Confirmation of Supreme Court Nominee
In May 2020, Lindsey Graham stated that the Senate would work to confirm a Supreme Court nominee if a vacancy occurred before the November election.
August 2020: Kavanaugh Confirmation and Rule Changes
In August 2020, Lindsey Graham stated that after Brett 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 supported the Senate immediately voting on President Trump's nominee to succeed her, which was seen as a reversal of his previous stance.
2020: Defeated Jaime Harrison
In 2020, Lindsey Graham defeated Jaime Harrison in the Senate election by more than ten percentage points.
2020: Sponsorship of the Growing Climate Solutions Act
In 2020, Lindsey Graham sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which aimed to simplify the process for farmers to sell carbon credits on existing carbon trading markets.
2020: Decline 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 US Senate
In 2020, Lindsey Graham was reelected to the U.S. Senate.
2020: Graham to support Trump's reelection
In April 2018, Graham stated he would support Trump's reelection in 2020.
2020: Graham seeks reelection to the Senate
In February 2019, Graham stated that a good relationship with Trump would help his prospects of reelection to the Senate in 2020.
July 8, 2021: Criticism of Biden's Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal Decision
On July 8, 2021, Lindsey Graham criticized President Biden's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, calling it a "disaster in the making" and predicting dangerous consequences.
2021: End of Judiciary Committee Chairmanship
In 2021, Lindsey Graham's tenure as chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary ended.
February 2022: Introduction of 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.
March 3, 2022: Tweet Suggesting Assassination of Vladimir Putin
On March 3, 2022, Lindsey Graham tweeted a suggestion that someone in Russia should assassinate Vladimir Putin, which drew backlash and condemnation.
May 2022: Advocacy for Overturning Roe v. Wade
In May 2022, Lindsey Graham advocated that the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade to ensure that "every state will decide if abortion is legal and on what terms".
June 2022: Belief on Federal Government's Right to Regulate Abortion
In June 2022, Lindsey Graham asserted that all conservatives "believed that there's nothing in the Constitution giving the federal government the right to regulate abortion".
August 2022: Statement on States Deciding Abortion Issue
In August 2022, Lindsey Graham said that "states should decide the issue of abortion" and that he had "been consistent" on this.
September 2022: Introduction of Federal Abortion Ban Legislation
In September 2022, despite previously supporting states' rights on abortion, Lindsey Graham introduced legislation to institute a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
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 a red flag provision and stronger background checks.
January 28, 2023: Graham Supports Trump at Campaign Rally
On January 28, 2023, Lindsey Graham appeared at Donald Trump's campaign rally and told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he would support Trump, mostly regarding perceived international threats.
May 26, 2023: Controversy Over Edited Video Remarks on Ukraine War
On May 26, 2023, Lindsey Graham faced criticism after an edited video released by the Office of the President of Ukraine appeared to link his remarks about Russians dying with the American military assistance to Ukraine. The unedited version later clarified the remarks were unrelated.
May 29, 2023: Issuance of Arrest Warrant by Russian Interior Ministry
On May 29, 2023, the Russian Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Lindsey Graham due to his comments about the war. Graham responded that he would wear the warrant as a "Badge of Honor" and submit to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court should Russia attempt to serve it.
October 10, 2023: Statement of Support for Israel During Gaza War
On October 10, 2023, Lindsey Graham tweeted that he "unapologetically stand[s] with Israel" during the Gaza war, calling the conflict a "religious war" and suggesting Gaza should be "flattened".
November 2023: Co-sponsorship of the Foreign Pollution Fee Act
In November 2023, Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act, proposing 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.
March 9, 2024: Call to dismantle the Palestinian school system
On March 9, 2024, Lindsey Graham stated that Palestinian children have been taught to kill all the Jews and that the Palestinian school system needs to be dismantled.
May 8, 2024: Warning Against Halting Arms Supply to Israel
On May 8, 2024, Lindsey Graham warned the Pentagon against halting arms supply to Israel, comparing the conflict to "Hiroshima and Nagasaki on steroids," which caused a debate in the Japanese National Diet.
2024: Graham campaigns for Trump
In 2024, Graham campaigned and publicly advocated for Trump on news programs like Meet The Press, and called on other prominent Republican politicians to campaign for Trump.
2024: Graham Calls Trump's Election Victory 'Biggest Comeback'
In 2024, Lindsey Graham referred to Donald Trump's election victory as "the biggest comeback in American history".
January 14, 2025: Announced Lead Officials for Reelection Campaign
On January 14, 2025, Lindsey Graham announced lead officials for his 2026 reelection campaign and reported $15.6 million in campaign fundraising.
March 26, 2025: Endorsed by President Trump
On March 26, 2025, it was reported that President Donald Trump endorsed Lindsey Graham.
June 1, 2025: Tweet Regarding Greta Thunberg's Trip to Gaza
On June 1, 2025, Lindsey Graham tweeted in response to Greta Thunberg's trip to Gaza, "Hope Greta and her friends can swim!"
August 2025: Claim on Trump Administration's Tariffs and Criticism by Jeffrey Sachs
In August 2025, Lindsey Graham claimed the Trump administration's tariffs on Indian imports of Russian oil played a key role in bringing Putin to the negotiating table, while economist Jeffrey Sachs sharply criticized Graham, calling him "the worst senator in the U.S." and a "fool", arguing that the tariffs had the opposite effect.
August 2025: Remarks on America and Israel
In August 2025, Lindsey Graham said "if America pulls the plug on Israel, God will pull the plug on us" at a South Carolina Republican Party meeting.
2025: Support for Secondary Sanctions Against Russia
In 2025, Lindsey Graham supported secondary sanctions against Russia, including 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, natural gas, uranium, and other exports.
2026: Future Reelection Campaign
Lindsey Graham announced lead officials for his 2026 reelection campaign on January 14, 2025.
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