How Lindsey Graham’s ability to read the moment propelled him to political relevance for 3 decades

By: Gibbs Knotts, Christopher A. Cooper

Outlets: South Carolina Daily Gazette

Published: July 16, 2026

Words: 1,152

Last Updated: 5 days, 9 hours ago

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Since South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death on June 11, much of the commentary has focused on his evolution from Donald Trump critic to Trump ally.

But focusing on that transformation misses the broader pattern that defined his political career. For more than three decades, Graham repeatedly positioned himself where Republican politics in the South were headed rather than where they had been.

As scholars of elections and Southern …

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