WATCH: Lindsey Graham Wants GOP to Stop Fighting Marriage Equality

'Accept the court's ruling; fight for the religious liberties of every American,' says the South Carolina Senator and Republican presidential candidate.

Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.

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Sunnivie Brydum

June 28 2015 3:53 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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True to his word, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has accepted the Supreme Court's ruling on marriage equality, and is urging his fellow Republicans to abandon efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Speaking with Chuck Todd on NBC's Meet the Press today, Graham acknowledged the near-impossibility of such an amendment ever attaining the necessary amount of votes to be ratified in today's Congress.

"I don't believe there is any chance for a constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman to get two-thirds votes in the House and the Senate, and be ratified by three-fourths of the states," acknowledged Graham.

Todd asked Graham to weigh in on the GOP's 2012 party platform, which included support for a constitutional amendment that would categorically outlaw same-sex marriage. (This year, fellow Republican presidential hopefuls Ted Cruz, Bobby Jindal, and Mike Huckabee have advocated for such an amendment.)

"I agree with Jeb," said Graham, referring to rival Republican candidate Jeb Bush. "In my view you can put it in the platform, but it will, in my view, hurt us in 2016, because it's a process that's not going to bear fruit of those who believe that opposing same-sex marriage is part of their faith. So no, I would not engage in the constitutional amendment process as a party going into 2016."