Lindsey Graham’s death will shake the US Senate, and the November election. Here’s what comes next
The death of Senator Lindsey Graham triggers a complex legal process for his replacement in the US Senate and on the November ballot. South Carolina officials must now navigate state laws and federal election requirements to fill the seat.
Why it matters
The vacancy impacts the Republican Party's slim Senate majority and introduces significant uncertainty into the upcoming South Carolina election cycle.
The sudden death of influential Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina will have implications for legislative business in the Senate - where Republicans' slim margin is already under stress with the absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell after he was hospitalised- and the November election.
Here's what we know about what comes next.
Under state law, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster can appoint a temporary replacement to fill Graham's now-vacant seat.
But because Graham was up for reelection this year, his death will kick off a sprint primary election to replace him on the November ballot .
Officials have yet to announce how Graham will be replaced, but state law appears to call for a special primary election on 11 August - with a possible runoff on 25 August - to choose a new nominee.
Under that timeline, the candidate filing period would run from 21 July to 28 July.
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