Lindsey Graham returns home one last time for his funeral in South Carolina

Lindsey Graham returns home one last time for his funeral in South Carolina 1 of 8 | President Donald Trump remembered Sen. Lindsey Graham as “a giant of the United States Senate” and a “true American original.” Trump joined foreign leaders, lawmakers and others at a memorial service for Graham on Tuesday at Washington-national-cathedral" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="23839" data-entity-type="location">Washington National Cathedral. 2 of 8 | Sen. Lindsey Graham was eulogized by President Donald Trump as “a true American original” during memorial services Tuesday at Washington-national-cathedral" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="23839" data-entity-type="location">Washington National Cathedral. Foreign leaders attended the service, a testament to Graham’s stature on the global stage. Earlier, lawmakers paid tribute to Graham’s flag-draped casket at the U.S. Capitol, where the Republican served for more than 30 years. 3 of 8 | Sen. Lindsey Graham is being eulogized in Washington. Graham’s flag-draped casket arrived Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol, where the Republican served for more than 30 years as an indefatigable dealmaker. 4 of 8 | The casket of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is carried into First Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., for a funeral service, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) 5 of 8 | The casket of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is escorted to First Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., for a funeral service, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) 6 of 8 | Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., left, who is running to fill the seat of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., greets an attendee before the late Sen. Graham’s funeral at First Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) 7 of 8 | President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other guests, attend the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Tuesday July 28, 2026, at the Washington-national-cathedral" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="23839" data-entity-type="location">Washington National Cathedral in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) 8 of 8 | A guest looks at the program during the service for Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert) 1 of 8 President Donald Trump remembered Sen. Lindsey Graham as “a giant of the United States Senate” and a “true American original.” Trump joined foreign leaders, lawmakers and others at a memorial service for Graham on Tuesday at Washington-national-cathedral" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="23839" data-entity-type="location">Washington National Cathedral. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 8 Sen. Lindsey Graham was eulogized by President Donald Trump as “a true American original” during memorial services Tuesday at Washington-national-cathedral" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="23839" data-entity-type="location">Washington National Cathedral. Foreign leaders attended the service, a testament to Graham’s stature on the global stage. Earlier, lawmakers paid tribute to Graham’s flag-draped casket at the U.S. Capitol, where the Republican served for more than 30 years. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 8 Sen. Lindsey Graham is being eulogized in Washington. Graham’s flag-draped casket arrived Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol, where the Republican served for more than 30 years as an indefatigable dealmaker. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 8 | The casket of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is carried into First Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., for a funeral service, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) 4 of 8 The casket of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is carried into First Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., for a funeral service, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 5 of 8 | The casket of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is escorted to First Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., for a funeral service, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) 5 of 8 The casket of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is escorted to First Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., for a funeral service, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 6 of 8 | Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., left, who is running to fill the seat of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., greets an attendee before the late Sen. Graham’s funeral at First Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) 6 of 8 Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., left, who is running to fill the seat of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., greets an attendee before the late Sen. Graham’s funeral at First Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 7 of 8 | President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other guests, attend the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Tuesday July 28, 2026, at the Washington-national-cathedral" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="23839" data-entity-type="location">Washington National Cathedral in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) 7 of 8 President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other guests, attend the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Tuesday July 28, 2026, at the Washington-national-cathedral" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="23839" data-entity-type="location">Washington National Cathedral in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 8 of 8 | A guest looks at the program during the service for Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert) 8 of 8 A guest looks at the program during the service for Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Washington powerbroker Sen. Lindsey Graham returned home to South Carolina for the last time Wednesday for his funeral and burial.After Graham was eulogized Tuesday in the nation’s capital as an indefatigable dealmaker by the president, vice president and others, mourners in Columbia prepared to remember him Wednesday as the son of pool hall owners who never forgot his roots.Graham seemed to know every small-town mayor and police chief and the location of every Chick-fil-A across South Carolina. His PAC made sure Republicans had money to run in legislative and local elections across the state.Graham died suddenly on July 11 at his home in Washington, likely of an aortic tear, according to preliminary findings. He had just returned from a whirlwind trip to a NATO summit in Turkey, where he celebrated his 71st birthday, and a visit to Ukraine as he negotiated punishing sanctions against Russia. Senators voted late Tuesday to advance the package as a final gesture for their colleague. Wednesday’s funeral was at First Baptist, the giant downtown church where his predecessor Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond was honored 23 years ago.Graham’s body was first brought to the South Carolina Statehouse, where he started his political career in 1993, for a law enforcement ceremony and a flyover by military jets. A horse-drawn caisson then carried his casket to the church, where his family followed members of his family carrying it inside. 4 MIN READ 1 MIN READ 5 MIN READ Graham’s burial Wednesday near his home in Pickens County was planned as a private ceremony. On Tuesday, Graham’s flag-draped casket was at the U.S. Capitol, where the Republican spent more than 30 years talking and laughing and badgering his colleagues into action.President Donald Trump then joined foreign leaders at the Washington-national-cathedral" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="23839" data-entity-type="location">Washington National Cathedral, a testament to Graham’s stature on the global stage.Trump called Graham “a giant of the United States Senate, a true American original who left us much too soon.” Graham’s death has created opportunities for change in South Carolina. Graham had already won the Republican nomination as he ran for a fifth term. Gov. Henry McMaster named his younger sister Darline to hold his seat until January. Darline Graham then surprised many by deciding to run for the full six-year term herself. State law has Republicans holding a special primary in two weeks to decide the new nominee. Eight others are competing, including former Gov. Mark Sanford and U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry.