Leading Texas Republicans are taking to social media after the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, celebrating the native South Carolinian as a great conservative leader. "He was a kind and funny man who loved our country and loved serving it," Former President George W. Bush said in a statement posted to X. "South Carolina was fortunate to have such a committed public servant in its corner." ...

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025.

Tracy Glantz/The State/TNS

Leading Texas Republicans are taking to social media after the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, celebrating the native South Carolinian as a great conservative leader.

"He was a kind and funny man who loved our country and loved serving it," Former President George W. Bush said in a statement posted to X. "South Carolina was fortunate to have such a committed public servant in its corner."

Graham, 71, died on Saturday night after a "brief and sudden illness," according to his office. A former Air Force lawyer, Graham spent three decades in the U.S. Senate. He was seeking a fifth term at the time of his death.

Sen. Ted Cruz frequently collaborated with Graham, co-sponsoring a bill to restrict Birthright Citizenship just a few months ago. He remembered Graham as a "fearless patriot, a devoted public servant, and one of the fiercest advocates for America's national security" in a Sunday post on X.

"For years, I had the privilege of serving alongside Lindsey in the Senate," Cruz wrote. "We fought shoulder to shoulder for conservative judges, stood together with our allies, and never wavered in confronting America's adversaries."

Graham was also praised as a "great patriot" by outgoing Sen. John Cornyn, who served with him on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Graham voiced his support for Cornyn during his competitive primary challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton.

"Like millions around the world, my thoughts are with Senator Graham's family today," Cornyn wrote in a post on X. "He was a fierce advocate for our nation's military and our federal judiciary."

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican who serves Texas' 10th Congressional District between Austin and Houston, joined the Texas Senators in offering his condolences to Graham's family.

"This is a loss not only for his family and friends like me, but for the entire nation," he wrote in a Sunday post on X.

Republican U.S. Rep Wesley Hunt, who represents Texas' 38th Congressional District in Houston, also added his voice to the growing collection of Texas Republicans mourning Graham's passing.

"For decades, Senator Graham dedicated his life to the service of our nation.," he wrote in a Sunday X post. "His commitment to public service leaves a lasting legacy, and we are grateful for his many years of service to the American people."