Lindsey Graham has represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003, after serving in the House and as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force. He’s one of the most visible Republican voices on foreign policy, military force, and national security.
Graham chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and helped drive multiple Supreme Court confirmations, locking in the current conservative majority. He’s also been in the middle of every big fight over surveillance, terrorism policy, and defense spending for two decades.
On immigration and border security, Graham has played both hawk and dealmaker: sometimes pushing bipartisan packages that pair legalization with strict enforcement, sometimes blasting Democrats for being “soft on the border.” That flexibility — plus his shifting closeness to Donald Trump — makes him one of the Senate’s most polarizing Republicans.
Mainstream Conservative
Achievements
- Key architect of Supreme Court confirmations that cemented a conservative Court majority
- Senior defense hawk pushing high Pentagon budgets, Ukraine aid, and a hard line on Iran
- Longtime advocate for military families, veterans’ services, and counterterror resources
- Participated in high-profile bipartisan immigration talks pairing border security with legal status pathways
- Vocal on Judiciary and Foreign Relations, shaping GOP legal and foreign policy messaging
Controversies
- Criticized for shifting tone on Donald Trump — going from sharp critic to close ally and back again
- Hit by isolationist Republicans for supporting robust U.S. military involvement overseas
- Targeted by Democrats for efforts to advance national abortion restrictions at the federal level
- Accused of political inconsistency on immigration depending on which coalition he’s trying to court
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Jewish Coalition | $103,794 | $95,555 | $8,239 |
| Nelson, Mullins et al | $71,923 | $51,923 | $20,000 |
| Boeing Co | $60,980 | $41,980 | $19,000 |
| US Dept of Defense | $49,299 | $49,299 | $0 |
| National Republican Senatorial Cmte | $44,601 | $1 | $44,600 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2014 Margin R +15.5%
2020 Margin R +10.3%