Lindsey Graham
American · 71 years old · Died 12 May 2026
U.S. Senator from South Carolina
Cause of death
Aortic dissection complicated by cardiovascular disease
Lindsey Graham was a sitting U.S. Senator from South Carolina who served from 2003 until his death. A former Air Force lawyer, he was known for his hawkish foreign policy positions and his close relationship with the late Senator John McCain. He died suddenly at 71 from an aortic dissection complicated by cardiovascular disease — a reminder that even those with access to the best healthcare are not immune to sudden cardiac events.
How common is cardiovascular disease?
Lindsey Graham died of aortic dissection complicated by cardiovascular disease. Globally, cardiovascular disease kills 18,600,000 people every year — that is 50,959 per day, or roughly one person every 2 seconds. It accounts for 30% of all deaths worldwide.
Deaths / year
18,600,000
Deaths / day
50,959
Deaths / hour
2,123
Deaths / second
0.59
Share of all global deaths
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Since Lindsey Graham died
Live count since 12 May 2026
Total deaths worldwide since then
---
Deaths from same cause since then
---
Other notable deaths in 2026
Alan Greenspan
100 · January
Robert Mueller
81 · February
Ted Turner
87 · March
Barney Frank
86 · January
James Woolsey
84 · April
Jesse Jackson
84 · June