Following his death, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily represent the state in the U.S. Senate until voters choose a permanent successor in the November election.
In the weeks leading up to his passing, Graham devoted much of his attention to advancing tougher economic penalties against Russia as its war against Ukraine continued. The longtime senator repeatedly argued that increasing financial pressure on Moscow was one of the most effective ways to weaken Russia’s ability to sustain the conflict.
Just one day before his death, Graham traveled to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During the visit, he reaffirmed his support for continued American assistance and called for greater pressure on the Kremlin.
After learning of Graham’s passing, Zelenskyy said he was “deeply saddened” and praised the South Carolina senator as one of Ukraine’s most dependable allies in Washington.
During an appearance on CNN with Dana Bash, Thune said Senate leadership intends to keep Graham’s sanctions package moving forward despite his death.
“I certainly hope that we can get there to do that,” Thune said.
Thune explained that the legislation had already received significant backing from both parties and noted that the White House had worked closely with Graham throughout the drafting process. According to the majority leader, once lawmakers agree on the final language, the bill could attract overwhelming bipartisan support.
“Lindsey had been working that issue for a long time,” Thune said. “It’s one of those things he was very passionate about. He wants to see a free and independent Ukraine, as all of us do.”
The Senate leader emphasized that Graham consistently viewed economic sanctions as one of Washington’s most effective foreign policy tools, believing they allowed the United States to apply pressure without direct military confrontation.
“He was a big believer that economic sanctions are a huge tool for the president and his administration, for us to achieve that outcome,” Thune said.
According to Thune, no issue ranked higher on Graham’s legislative agenda during his final days than completing the Russia sanctions package.
“This sanctions bill was probably, in his last days, the thing that he cared the most about, in terms of an accomplishment,” Thune said. “So I’m hopeful we can get that done. It’s something we’ve been talking about for a long time.”
The legislation currently has the support of 60 Senate co-sponsors and is expected to receive floor consideration next week. If approved, it would significantly expand the president’s authority to impose additional sanctions on Russian financial institutions, energy exports, and other key sectors of the Russian economy while increasing economic pressure over Moscow’s continued military campaign in Ukraine.
Supporters of the measure argue that stronger sanctions would further isolate Russia economically while reinforcing America’s long-standing commitment to Ukraine. Backers from both political parties have also pointed to Graham’s long record on national security as a major reason they continue to support the legislation.
For Thune, passing the bill would accomplish more than advancing U.S. foreign policy. He believes it would complete one of Graham’s final legislative goals and preserve the legacy of a senator who spent decades shaping America’s national security agenda.
“It would certainly be an incredible legacy for him if, in fact, we could find a path forward,” Thune said. “It’ll take Democrats and Republicans here in the Senate to do that. But I’m hopeful we can make that happen.”
As lawmakers prepare for next week’s expected vote, attention will focus on whether Congress can deliver on what many of Graham’s colleagues now describe as the final major policy objective of his Senate career. If the legislation reaches the president’s desk, it would not only strengthen economic pressure on Russia but also stand as one of the last enduring accomplishments of a senator whose influence on national security debates stretched across decades.
