Congress returns from its Independence Day recess facing additional uncertainty over the legislative agenda before the November midterm elections. Over the weekend, Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) unexpectedly passed away from heart disease resulting in a tear to his aorta. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, will appoint a temporary replacement for the remainder of Graham’s term through next January. The named replacement will likely be a candidate for election to a full term this November. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has also been absent from the Senate due to illness, although he plans a return to complete the remaining portion of his term. Both absences will complicate efforts by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to advance legislation.

House Republican leadership had been advocating for passage of a third budget reconciliation bill that would include portions of the SAVE Act, a Republican voter-ID bill, that would procedurally be immune to a Senate filibuster by Democrats. However, Graham was chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, which would play a central role in any reconciliation effort. His death will further complicate budget reconciliation efforts.