WATCH LIVE: Senate returns to Washington after sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham

By — Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-senate-returns-to-washington-after-sudden-death-of-sen-lindsey-graham Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH LIVE: Senate returns to Washington after sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham Politics Jul 13, 2026 11:36 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans will return to Washington on Monday with an uncertain agenda after the sudden death of prominent Republican Lindsey Graham, a committee chairman and key player who served as a crucial ally with President Donald Trump. The Senate convenes at 3 p.m. EDT. Watch live in our video player above. Graham, 71, died Saturday evening after a tear in his aorta , according to a statement from his office on Sunday. The shocking news came after another prominent Republican senator, former Republican leader Mitch McConnell, has been hospitalized for almost a month. McConnell broke a weekslong silence about his health Sunday evening, saying that he was still recovering after suffering from pneumonia and falling in his home. READ MORE: Lindsey Graham remembered for a vision of American foreign policy that's fading in Washington The continued absence of McConnell, R-Ky., and the surprise death of the South Carolina senator have shaken Republicans who were already at odds with Trump and stalled on several priorities as they return from a two-week recess. And the reduced Republican numbers in the 53-47 Senate are sure to add confusion to what was already expected to be a chaotic and difficult few months before the November midterm elections. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Despite consolidated power in Washington, Republicans have been unable to get much done as the Senate, House and White House have disagreed on legislative priorities and as Trump has criticized Senate Republicans, in particular, for not passing his legislation to require proof of citizenship for voters. Graham, who was one of Trump's closest friends in the Senate, often served as a pivotal intermediary. READ MORE: Trump says U.S. will blockade Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and will charge a toll for safe passage "He was a great — like a gauge, a temperature gauge of the Senate," Trump said of Graham on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday morning, noting he had talked to Graham on Saturday. "He could go in and get something approved. He would just get people on his side." Republican priorities are stalled The Senate left town two weeks ago after a rough few weeks for Republicans. Trump blocked the Senate from confirming one of his own nominees, asked them to fund parts of his White House ballroom project despite opposition and forced them to defend the Iran war even as they questioned the strategy and endgame. He also refused to sign a bipartisan, election