Pauly Denetclaw
ICT

U.S. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham was supportive of the Catawba Nation, the only federally-recognized tribe in South Carolina. He championed legislation that was important to the Catawba Nation, but rarely addressed national tribal sovereignty issues.

Graham, 71, died suddenly from aortic dissection, a tear in a main artery to the heart, on July 11. Graham was in the U.S. Senate for 23 years.

Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris remembered Graham as an ally to the tribe in a social media post.

“While history will remember Senator Graham for his decades of public service, the Catawba Nation will remember him as someone who understood the importance of honoring commitments to tribal nations,” Harris wrote on Facebook. “His support and willingness to work alongside us were instrumental in helping secure the path that ultimately allowed the Catawba Nation to establish gaming in North Carolina – an achievement that has created jobs, strengthened our economy, and provided opportunities that will benefit generations of Catawba citizens.”

The Two Kings Casino is located near Charlotte, North Carolina. The tribe opened a pre-launch casino in 2021, which will soon be replaced by a brand new complex. The new $1 billion casino resort is set for completion in 2027, and will create 2,200 permanent jobs, according to a 2025 statement from the tribe.

“The journey to restore our economic future was not easy. It required partners who were willing to listen, lead, and stand beside us when it mattered most. Senator Graham was one of those partners. His efforts helped move forward a vision that many believed was impossible,” Harris stated on Facebook. “On behalf of the Catawba Nation, I offer my sincere gratitude for his friendship, his leadership, and his commitment to ensuring our Nation had the opportunity to build a stronger future for our people. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy of public service be remembered with honor.”

The Catawba Nation, and United South and Eastern Tribes did not immediately respond to ICT for comment.

Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary and former U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Cherokee, called Graham a friend in a post on X.

“Breaks my heart to lose a good friend and patriot who dedicated his life to this great country. I’ll always remember our dinners together, because of Lindsey’s quick wit and humor,” Mullin stated. “Christie [Mullin’s spouse] and I are praying for Lindsey’s family, staff, and all who loved him.”

U.S. House Rep. Tom Cole, Chickasaw, highlighted Graham’s stance on foreign policy in a July 12 statement.

“When it came to foreign affairs, Graham was an old-fashioned statesman and hawk, Cole, an Oklahoma Republican, stated. “He believed America was a force for good in the world, and he never hesitated to confront those who threatened our interests and our allies – from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea to terrorist organizations around the globe.”

Cole is the longest-serving Indigenous member of Congress and he worked with Graham throughout the years.

“As appropriators serving in different chambers, we worked together and shared a commitment to a strong national defense,” Cole stated. “I always appreciated his insight, his candor, and his willingness to pick up the phone to exchange ideas, discuss Oklahoma figures or issues, or strategize how we could bridge differences between the House and Senate. He was never shy about calling to seek advice, compare notes, or test his own impressions – a quality that reflected both his confidence and his respect for the views of others.”

Cole said Graham would be missed in Washington.

“I will miss Senator Lindsey Graham, and so will the Congress he served so faithfully,” Cole said in a statement. “His gregarious nature always left us with points made crispy, cleanly, and with a laugh. That energy and humor certainly made him the ‘happy warrior’ of his political generation. His leadership, collegiality, and unmistakable presence will be deeply missed.”

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, Ho-Chunk, a democrat representing Kansas’ third congressional district, hasn’t publicly addressed Graham’s death.

Biography

A career-politician, he was first elected in 1992 and served in the South Carolina state legislature. Two years later, Graham was elected to the U.S. House where he remained until 2002, when he made a successful run for the U.S. Senate. Graham served four full terms as a member of the U.S. Senate, representing South Carolina.

He was an influential voice in Congress and a critic-turned-ally of President Donald J. Trump.

Graham was running for reelection to serve a fifth Senate term at the time of his death. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve as a senator until the special election is completed and the new senator is sworn into office next January.

Graham was an outspoken conservative politician who often made controversial statements, and supported anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigration, and hawkish legislation. He is most known for his foreign policy that favored strong U.S. military interventions. Graham was supportive of Ukraine and Israel.

On July 10, Graham met with Ukraine President Vladimir Zelensky.

He passionately defended Brett Kavanaugh during the 2018 Supreme Court Justice’s Senate hearing. Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault. Graham is credited with saving Kavanaugh’s nomination and getting him to the Supreme Court bench.

Kavanaugh has more often than not voted against tribal interests.

Graham was unmarried and had no children.

A special election will be held in August to pick a new Republican nominee in the general election for Graham’s seat. He had been seeking a fifth term this year.

Possible candidates include three Republicans who fell short for the party’s nomination for governor this year — U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Also in the mix is U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, who was elected to the House in 2022.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

The post Current, former Indigenous elected officials reflect on death of Lindsey Graham appeared first on ICT.

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