US Senate meets with GOP majority of 51 after Graham death

The U.S. Senate reconvened on Monday, July 13, 2026, facing immediate legislative challenges and a significantly diminished Republican majority following the sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham and the continued hospitalization of Senator Mitch McConnell. Graham, a 71-year-old Republican from South Carolina and a key ally of President Donald Trump, died on July 11 from an aortic dissection. McConnell, the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican, remains in a rehabilitation facility recovering from a fall in mid-June and a bout of pneumonia.

These developments reduce the Republican majority in the 100-seat chamber from 53 to 51 seats, the minimum required for a simple majority, complicating the party's ability to advance its agenda during a critical four-week summer work period. The Senate must address several high-priority items, including passing major defense policy legislation, confirming presidential nominees, and funding the government before the new fiscal year begins on October 1 to avoid a shutdown.

Graham's absence is particularly felt across key committees. He was a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, chairman of the Budget Committee, and a member of the...