
Lindsey Graham
A US Senator who is portrayed as a leading voice among neocons advocating for a confrontational, and potentially military, approach towards Iran.
First Mentioned
1/4/2026, 4:02:33 AM
Last Updated
1/12/2026, 2:35:45 AM
Research Retrieved
1/4/2026, 4:08:01 AM
Summary
Lindsey Olin Graham is a prominent American politician and attorney who has served as the senior United States senator from South Carolina since 2003. A member of the Republican Party, he has held significant leadership roles, including chairing the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2019 to 2021 and currently serving as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Graham's career is marked by his military service in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve, where he achieved the rank of colonel and received the Bronze Star Medal. Known as a neoconservative and defense hawk, he advocates for an interventionist foreign policy, frequently calling for aggressive action against adversaries like Iran and Russia. While initially a vocal critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 election, he transitioned into a staunch ally by 2017 and has since been a key supporter of Trump's national and international agenda.
Referenced in 2 Documents
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Awards
Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal
Education
Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from University of South Carolina
Full Name
Lindsey Olin Graham
Date of Birth
1955-07-09
Military Rank
Colonel
Place of Birth
Central, South Carolina, United States
Military Branch
United States Air Force / Air Force Reserve
Political Party
Republican Party
Foreign Policy Ideology
Neoconservative / Defense Hawk
Timeline
- Born in Central, South Carolina. (Source: Wikidata)
1955-07-09
- Began service in the United States Air Force JAG Corps, serving until 1988. (Source: Wikipedia)
1982-01-01
- Began term in the South Carolina House of Representatives, serving until 1995. (Source: Britannica)
1993-01-01
- Began term in the U.S. House of Representatives representing South Carolina's 3rd district. (Source: Wikipedia)
1995-01-03
- Sworn in as United States Senator from South Carolina. (Source: Wikipedia)
2003-01-03
- Reelected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first person in South Carolina history to receive over one million votes. (Source: lgraham.senate.gov)
2008-11-04
- Awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. (Source: Wikipedia)
2014-01-01
- Formally announced candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. (Source: Ballotpedia)
2015-06-01
- Withdrew from the 2016 presidential race. (Source: Ballotpedia)
2015-12-21
- Shifted from a critic to a staunch ally of Donald Trump following a private meeting. (Source: Wikipedia)
2017-03-01
- Assumed the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, serving until 2021. (Source: Wikipedia)
2019-01-03
- Appeared at Donald Trump's first prime-time 2024 campaign rally to offer public support. (Source: Wikipedia)
2023-01-28
- Introduced legislation (S.2805) to designate the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. (Source: Congress.gov)
2025-09-15
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaLindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin Graham ( GRAM; born July 9, 1955) is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States senator from South Carolina, a seat he has held since 2003. A member of the Republican Party, Graham chaired the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2019 to 2021. Born in South Carolina, Graham earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina. He served in the United States Air Force from 1982 to 1988 as a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps, working as a defense attorney and chief prosecutor in Europe. He later served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve while in Congress. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in 2014 and held the rank of colonel. He did not see combat action during his service. Graham worked as a lawyer in private practice before serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995 and the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, representing South Carolina's 3rd congressional district. In 2002, Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate. He was reelected in 2008, 2014, and 2020. A neoconservative, Graham is a defense hawk and strong advocate for aggressive interventionist foreign policy. Initially, he was known for his willingness to work with Democrats on issues like campaign finance reform, a ban on waterboarding, cap and trade, immigration reform, and judicial nominees. He criticized the Tea Party movement, arguing for a more inclusive Republican Party. Graham sought the Republican nomination for president between June and December 2015, dropping out before the 2016 Republican primaries began. He was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump's 2016 candidacy and repeatedly said he did not support Trump; in particular, he took issue with Trump's comments on Graham's close friend John McCain. After a March 2017 meeting with Trump, Graham became a staunch ally of his, often issuing public statements in his defense. His reversal caught both parties by surprise and sparked media speculation.
Web Search Results
- Lindsey Graham - Wikipedia
Lindsey Olin Graham (/ɡræm/ GRAM; born July 9, 1955) is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States senator from South Carolina, a seat he has held since 2003. A member of the Republican Party "Republican Party (United States)"), Graham chaired the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2019 to 2021. [...] Lindsey Olin Graham was born in Central, South Carolina, where his parents, Millie (Walters) and Florence James "F.J." Graham, ran a restaurant/bar/pool hall/liquor store, the Sanitary Cafe. His family is of Scots-Irish descent. After graduating from D. W. Daniel High School, Graham became the first member of his family to attend college, and joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. When he was 21, his mother died of Hodgkin's lymphoma, aged 52, and his father died 15 months later of a [...] Graham appeared at Trump's first prime-time 2024 campaign rally on January 28, 2023, and told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he would support Trump "because I know what I'm going to get", mostly regarding perceived international threats. Graham campaigned and publicly advocated for Trump on news programs like Meet The Press throughout the 2024 election. He also called on other prominent Republican politicians to campaign for Trump.
- Lindsey Graham | Biography, Education, Subpoena, & Facts
Lindsey Graham (born July 9, 1955, Seneca, South Carolina, U.S.) is an American politician who was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and began representing South Carolina the following year. He previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1995–2003). ## Early life and military career [...] Graham was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives for a single term from 1992 to 1994. He then ran for and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives—the first time a Republican had been elected from South Carolina’s third congressional district since Reconstruction. When U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond retired in 2002, Graham ran for his seat, winning the general election with more than 54 percent of the vote. He took office in 2003. [...] Who is Lindsey Graham? What is Lindsey Graham’s main job in the government? Which state does Lindsey Graham represent in the U.S. Senate? When did Lindsey Graham first become a U.S. senator? What are some important committees Lindsey Graham has served on? How has Lindsey Graham influenced national policies or debates in the Senate?
- Lindsey Graham - Ballotpedia
Amendment Lindsey Graham is a strong supporter of Americans’ right to “keep and bear arms” as specified in the Second Amendment of the Constitution. As an owner of multiple guns himself, Senator Graham has been a steadfast protector of law-abiding gun owners. He is proud to receive high marks from organizations advocating for responsible gun ownership, including a 100% rating from the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Lindsey Graham is also committed to ending the scourge of senseless gun [...] more efficient government. Those are the values and priorities Lindsey Graham has fought for as a senator in Washington. In 2017, Senator Graham was a leading advocate for the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a historic tax reform package that spurred unprecedented economic growth throughout the country. In the wake of the agenda of deregulation and private enterprise empowerment championed by Senator Graham and President Trump, South Carolina experienced record low unemployment preceding [...] Graham was a Republican candidate for the office of President of the United States in 2016. He announced his run in his hometown of Central, South Carolina, on June 1, 2015. He withdrew from the race on December 21, 2015. On January 18, 2015, Graham said that he was considering a run for president in 2016. He noted that his foreign policy knowledge qualifies him to run. He said, "I think the world is falling apart, and I’ve been more right than wrong when it comes to foreign policy. But we’ll
- Biography - United States Senator Lindsey Graham
# United States Senator Lindsey Graham # Biography Share Print Home About Biography Lindsey Graham has earned a reputation as a conservative problem-solver and one of the strongest proponents of a robust national defense. [...] A frequent visitor to American troops stationed overseas for on-the-ground assessments, Graham has consistently pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror that protect our long-term national security interests. One leading conservative wrote that when it comes to defending America, "[Lindsey] Graham has been right about more things on foreign policy for longer than just about anyone…if anyone has bragging rights on foreign policy, it is Graham." [...] Graham was elected to the United States Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008, 2014, and 2020. He became the first person in South Carolina history to garner over one million votes in the 2008 general election. Graham currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Graham also serves as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Senator Lindsey Graham - Congress.gov
44. 22. S.2805 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act Sponsor: [Graham, Lindsey [Sen.-R-SC]](/member/lindsey-graham/G000359) (Introduced 09/15/2025) Cosponsors: (3) Latest Action: Senate - 09/16/2025 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 160. (All Actions) Tracker: [...] 30. 15. S.2978 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act Sponsor: [Graham, Lindsey [Sen.-R-SC]](/member/lindsey-graham/G000359) (Introduced 10/07/2025) Cosponsors: (3) Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations Latest Action: Senate - 10/30/2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 246. (All Actions) Tracker: [...] 15. S.2978 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act Sponsor: [Graham, Lindsey [Sen.-R-SC]](/member/lindsey-graham/G000359) (Introduced 10/07/2025) Cosponsors: (3) Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations Latest Action: Senate - 10/30/2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 246. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Introduced
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Date Of Birth
7/9/1955Place Of Birth
DBPedia
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Location Data
Lindsey Tank, Graham County, Arizona, United States
Coordinates: 32.7311245, -110.1018937
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