On July 14, 2026, President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) swore Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) into the U.S. Senate, filling the vacancy in South Carolina's class II seat.
The vacancy began on July 11, 2026, following the death of Lindsey Graham (R), Darline Graham's brother. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) appointed Darline Graham to represent the state in the U.S. Senate on July 13, 2026. She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate and the first sibling to be appointed to succeed a U.S. senator.
As of July 14, 2026, Republicans have a 53 to 45 majority in the U.S. Senate. Additionally, both independent members of the chamber caucus with Democrats.
Vacancies in the 119th Congress
So far in the 119th Congress, there have been 13 vacancies in the U.S. House of Representatives and five in the U.S. Senate. Of those vacancies:
- Four in the U.S. Senate were filled via appointment.
- One in the U.S. Senate was filled when Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) was sworn into office 11 days after the start of the 119th Congress. Justice delayed his swearing-in in order to fulfill the remainder of his term as governor of West Virginia.
- Nine in the U.S. House were filled after special election winners were sworn in.
As of July 14, 2026, the vacancies in California's 14th Congressional District, Florida's 20th Congressional District, Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, and Texas' 23rd Congressional District have not been filled.
Of the 18 vacancies, the longest was in Texas' 18th Congressional District.
Congressional vacancies since the 113th Congress
During the 113th through 118th Congresses, there were 88 vacancies in the U.S. House and 16 in the U.S. Senate. The average length of a vacancy in the U.S. Senate during that period was seven days. The average length of a vacancy in the U.S. House during that period was 138 days.
The longest vacancy in the U.S. Senate during that period was in New Jersey. The vacancy occurred during the 118th Congress, when Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) resigned on Aug. 20, 2024. Following Menendez's resignation, the seat was vacant for 20 days.
The longest vacancy in the U.S. House during that period was in Michigan's 13th Congressional District. The vacancy occurred during the 115th Congress, when Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) resigned on Dec. 5, 2017. Following Conyers' resignation, the seat was vacant for 359 days.
