Lindsey Graham | |
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United States Senator from South Carolina |
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Assumed office January 3, 2003 Serving with Tim Scott |
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Preceded by | Strom Thurmond |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd district |
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In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003 |
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Preceded by | Butler Derrick |
Succeeded by | Gresham Barrett |
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 2nd district |
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In office January 12, 1993 – January 3, 1995 |
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Preceded by | Lowell Ross |
Succeeded by | William Sandifer |
Personal details | |
Born |
Lindsey Olin Graham July 9, 1955 Central, South Carolina, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Education | University of South Carolina (BA, JD) |
Website | Senate website |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1982–1988 (Active) 1989–1995 (Air National Guard) 1995–2015 (Reserve) |
Rank | Colonel |
Unit | U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps |
Lindsey Olin Graham (born July 9, 1955) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party serving as the senior United States Senator from South Carolina, a seat he has held since 2003.
A native of Central, South Carolina, Graham graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1977. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1981. He served in the United States Air Force from 1982 to 1988 and served in the South Carolina Air National Guard then in the Air Force Reserves, attaining the rank of colonel. He worked as a lawyer in private practice before he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1992, serving one term from 1993 to 1995. He then served in the United States House of Representatives, representing South Carolina's 3rd congressional district from 1995 to 2003. He was elected to four terms, receiving at least 60% of the vote each time.
In 2002, Graham ran for the U.S. Senate after eight-term Republican incumbent Strom Thurmond announced his retirement. Graham won the primary unopposed and defeated Democratic opponent Alex Sanders in the general election. Graham was re-elected to a second term in 2008, defeating Bob Conley. He won a third term in 2014, defeating Democrat Brad Hutto and Independent Thomas Ravenel.