Following the sudden death of former US senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Saturday night and the ongoing hospitalization of Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) with an unclear status, questions arise about the Republican Party's position ahead of the midterms.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority over Democrats in the Senate at present.

Yet Graham's death combined with McConnell's hospitalization and the approaching midterms suggest this balance could shift soon.

Should Democrats claim both seats the chamber would narrow to a 51-49 divide, complicating efforts to advance legislation in an already gridlocked Congress.

The developments arrive as the GOP prepares for midterms and seeks to enact measures demonstrating focus on affordability issues.

What will the GOP do for midterm elections?

Challenges loom given the party's struggles and President Trump's low approval ratings.

As of Sunday Trump's approval stood near 39 percent with 58 percent disapproving according to New York Times polling.

His previous average of 50 percent occurred back in February 2025 per the same source.

The NYT survey indicates Democrats hold a modest overall lead in generic midterm contests, consistent with the typical gains for the opposition party during such cycles.

These trends point to disconnects between the president, the GOP and voters on affordability along with foreign policy matters.

Republicans are accelerating efforts on bills including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and multiple government funding measures ahead of the August recess. Ten additional appropriations bills must also clear before funding lapses in September.

During the break many members will launch midterm campaigns aimed at persuading voters of the party's seriousness on immigration, national security and affordability.

"It makes no sense to paralyze the House to pressure the Senate to pass the SAVE Act," House Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) told The Hill.

"We need to pass both, and now both [are] delayed. It's just a dumb strategy that weakens the House GOP, and no one is more thrilled than [House Minority Leader Hakeem] Jeffries," he added.

Trump has offered varying remarks on the midterms, at times claiming indifference, while other Republicans stress their critical role for the party.

Vice President JD Vance, viewed as a leading contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, suggested Trump could face impeachment if the GOP loses further ground.

"I'm sure he'll get impeached. Look, they have nothing to actually run on or govern on. Their entire obsessive focus is that they hate Donald Trump," Vance stated in June.

"If we were to lose the midterms, heaven forbid, these Democrats, y'all impeachment's not even the big concern," Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) remarked in June at the Faith and Freedom Coalition.

"They will turn every committee of Congress into an investigative body, and they'll go after the president's family, the cabinet, his donors and friends; half of you in this room will be targeted. I run the protection program. I'll take care of you. We're going to win the midterms."

A Democratic House could impeach Trump via simple majority though Senate removal would still demand a two-thirds vote. More probable outcomes include heightened investigations into Trump's actions and broader gridlock across both chambers.

What happens to McConnell's, Graham's seats in Congress?

McConnell has remained hospitalized since last month following a cardiac arrest response at his DC-area residence. Though unconfirmed officially, witnesses reported seeing the senator on a stretcher to CNN.

The veteran senator and Trump ally has stayed out of public view since the event.

His office indicated he was "receiving excellent care" yet offered no further health updates for roughly three weeks.

The health setbacks for both senior senators could erode the GOP's narrow Senate majority.

Should McConnell step down before term's end Kentucky would hold a special election for his successor, who would serve until January 2027.

Kentucky statutes require a special election proclamation filed with county sheriffs 63 days prior and candidate filings 56 days ahead.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged McConnell last week to issue a health statement.

"As a governor and fellow public official who understands the commitment we've made to the people we serve, I am requesting the senator provide an update on his current health status."

On Sunday he reiterated the call, urging McConnell to "end the crazy speculation. Just tell us what's going on."

Graham succumbed to a "brief and sudden illness" Saturday evening. NBC News noted emergency services responded to a cardiac arrest call at his Capitol Hill home that day.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican, will name an interim replacement for Graham's seat through January 2027. State rules do not mandate selecting from the same party.

The South Carolina Republican Party plans a special primary on August 11 to choose a nominee who will then compete in November against Dr. Annie Andrews.