Senator Lindsey Graham died after reporting chest pains

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died on Saturday, July 11, 2026, after suffering a medical emergency at his Capitol Hill townhouse in Washington, D.C. The 71-year-old Republican’s death was attributed to an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a preliminary finding from the District of Columbia medical examiner’s office.

New details about the senator’s final hours emerged on Monday from his colleague, Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. Tuberville told reporters that Graham called his scheduler on Saturday evening to report he was experiencing chest pains and asked her to call 911. The scheduler, who was a former staffer for Tuberville, was with another staff member at a restaurant when she received the call. According to Tuberville’s account, Graham told her, “Listen, I’m having chest pains. You know, I need to do something.” When she asked if he had called 911, he replied, “No, that’s the reason I called you.”

Emergency dispatch audio indicates that paramedics were sent to Graham’s home around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday for a report of chest pains. The caller was a woman from Baltimore, consistent with the scheduler’s location....