Summary

Lindsey Graham was born in 1955 and is currently serving as the senior United States Senator from South Carolina. Senator Graham’s seat is up for election in 2020.

Graham was elected to the United States Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008 and 2014. Prior to serving in the Senate, Graham represented the 3^rd Congressional District of South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 until 2003. Before being elected to Congress, Graham compiled a distinguished record in the U.S. Air Force as he logged six-and-a-half years of service on active duty as an Air Force lawyer. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal in 2014 and retired from the Air Force Reserves in 2015.

Graham is currently the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He also serves on the Foreign Relations Committee; the Appropriations Committee; and the Budget Committee.

Below is Senator Graham’s voting record and public positions on issues important to the Jewish community. 

Senator Graham opposed the Iran nuclear deal. He supported the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. He supported the Taylor Force Act, which states that no American governmental funds shall be given to a Palestinian entity that financially rewards terrorists or their families. He also criticized the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which claimed that Israel’s settlements have no legal validity, and cosponsored legislation that objected the resolution.

Senator Graham has been a strong voice in advocating for security assistance to Israel. Senator Graham cosponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act and the Combating BDS Act of 2017, two bills that aim to fight discriminatory boycotts that target Israel.

In 2019, he voted for the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act which, among other things, strengthened Israel’s security and allowed a state or local government to adopt measures to divest its assets from entities that boycott Israel.