South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death late Saturday has set off a scramble for who will succeed him in the Senate.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham died Saturday after a brief and unexpected illness, his office said in statement posted on social media.

The South Carolina representative passed away on Saturday evening, according to a statement from his office.

The South Carolina Republican was running for reelection to his fifth term in the Senate, having begun his tenure in 2003.