It鈥檚 been 135 days since the start of the Iran War, and a diplomatic solution seems shakier than ever. President Donald Trump said Monday that 鈥渨e鈥檙e taking over the Strait of Hormuz,鈥� a day after announcing that 鈥渨e out of them.鈥� Iran also asserted after retaliating with attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Oman.
And Congress is returning following the His death after a tear in his aorta Saturday leaves Republicans with just 51 members, with Mitch McConnell and South Carolina鈥檚 governor needing to appoint Graham鈥檚 interim successor.
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How will a special primary work?
South Carolina law requires a one-week filing period beginning July 21, for a special primary to be held on Aug. 11. A runoff if necessary would be held on Aug. 25, leaving the nominee just over two months to campaign for the general election on Nov. 3.
All of this is problematic according to federal law, which requires military and overseas ballots to go out 45 days before any federal election. For the general election primary, that would have been June 27. Federal Election Commission officials didn鈥檛 immediately return a message seeking clarity.
Does Graham鈥檚 death provide more of an opening for Democrats?
No Democrat has won a Senate seat in South Carolina in decades, and Republicans in recent history typically take statewide seats by double digits. When he last ran in 2020, Graham defeated his Democratic opponent, Jaime Harrison, by . But Republicans are carefully surveying the landscape after margins have tightened in other races.
Charleston pediatrician Annie Andrews won the Democratic nomination last month and has raised more than $8 million, with just under $3 million cash on hand at the end of May, according to federal filings. Graham had taken in $6 million, with just over $4 million on hand.
In a statement Sunday, Andrews called on South Carolinians to join her 鈥渋n setting partisanship aside and offering gratitude鈥� to Graham for his service.
Who could replace Graham?
Here鈥檚 how Graham鈥檚 death is scrambling South Carolina politics
on Saturday as he was begins a tumultuous new chapter in South Carolina politics. As the conservative state鈥檚 senior senator and an influential Trump ally, Graham was presumed to be on a glide path toward reelection.
Now, Gov. Henry McMaster must choose a temporary replacement to serve until January while the state also prepares a special primary so voters can choose a new Republican nominee for November鈥檚 general election. That appointed temporary caretaker could be a top contender in the special primary.
The rare open Senate seat has ignited a scramble among South Carolina鈥檚 most ambitious conservatives, who just finished a sprawling and bruising contest to succeed McMaster. State Attorney General Alan Wilson . Also-rans including Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Rep. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman are all now eyeing Graham鈥檚 seat following his death over the weekend.
Top Iran adviser says Iran won’t retreat from controlling the strait
Mohammed Mokhber, an adviser to Iran鈥檚 supreme leader says Tehran will fight for the Strait of Hormuz.
鈥淲e defend it so that in the future, for the passage of our ships, we are not forced to pay tribute to the enemy!鈥� he wrote on X. 鈥淩etreating from this vital matter has no place in the mind of any friend of Iran.鈥�
Trump says 鈥榳e鈥檙e taking over the Strait鈥� of Hormuz
That鈥檚 what Trump said Monday on Fox 小萝莉影视 Channel鈥檚 鈥淔ox and Friends.鈥�
Both the U.S. and asserted Monday that they controlled after a weekend of attacks stretching across the wider Middle East, further threatening any diplomacy to end the war.
Trump also said that 鈥渆verything was agreed to鈥� in an 11-hour meeting Sunday, but Iranian negotiators called back later 鈥渁nd they say, 鈥檞e had to make a couple of changes.鈥� He didn鈥檛 specify details.
The latest exchange was sparked by an Iranian attack on a container ship on Sunday in the strait, a critical waterway for international oil and gas over which Iran has asserted control since the United States and Israel started the war on Feb. 28.
Graham鈥檚 death a setback for Senate Republicans and Ukraine
Congress is returning after a summer break, with the Senate convening following the His death after a tear in his aorta Saturday leaves Republicans with just 51 members, with Mitch McConnell and South Carolina鈥檚 governor needing to appoint Graham鈥檚 interim successor.
This makes Trump鈥檚 already contentious congressional agenda It also leaves Ukraine President without a key ally who had Trump鈥檚 ear: Graham was a strong supporter of Ukraine, pressing the president to be firmer on Russia President Vladimir Putin. Now .
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