Lindsey Graham has a way of staying in the headlines, doesn't he? Whether he’s golfing with presidents or staring down a camera on a Sunday morning talk show, the senior senator from South Carolina is rarely quiet. But as we look toward the 2026 midterms, the big question isn't just about what he's saying—it's about who is actually lining up to take his job.
Honestly, the list of who is running against Lindsey Graham 2026 is getting crowded. It’s not just a "Democrat vs. Republican" thing anymore. He’s getting hit from his own side, the left, and even the fringes. South Carolina politics can be a bit of a blood sport, and this cycle is shaping up to be a doozy.
The Republican Primary: A Fight from Within
You’d think being a four-term incumbent with a direct line to the MAGA base would make you safe. Nope. For a lot of folks in the GOP, Graham is still "Globalist Lindsey," a label he just can't seem to shake despite his fierce loyalty to the current administration.
The most interesting name in the mix is Paul Dans. If that name sounds familiar, it's because he was a major architect of Project 2025 and served as the chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management. He’s running as the "true" conservative, basically arguing that Graham is more interested in foreign wars than South Carolina families. He even snagged an early nod of interest from folks like Tucker Carlson, which definitely ruffles some feathers in the establishment.
Then you've got Mark Lynch. He’s an appliance repair executive—a "regular guy" candidate. He’s been hitting the town hall circuit hard, lambasting Graham as a "flip-flopper." It's a classic strategy: the outsider vs. the career politician. Lynch actually reported raising over $5.4 million by late 2025, which is nothing to sneeze at, even if Graham’s war chest is significantly larger (we're talking nearly $19 million raised as of the last FEC filings).
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Thomas Murphy, a retired Navy hospital corpsman, is also in the primary. He’s leaning heavily on his military background and a platform of accountability. While he doesn't have the name recognition of Dans or the cash of Lynch, in a state like South Carolina where military service is revered, you can't totally count him out.
The Democratic Challengers: Can a Blue Wave Hit the Palmetto State?
Let’s be real: South Carolina is deep red. The last time a Democrat won a Senate seat here was Fritz Hollings, and that feels like ancient history. But the Democrats aren't sitting this one out.
The frontrunner for the nomination seems to be Dr. Annie Andrews. She’s a pediatrician from Charleston and previously ran against Nancy Mace for a House seat. Andrews is smart, well-spoken, and has been very vocal about "generational change." She’s making abortion access and gun violence central to her campaign, hoping to tap into the energy of suburban voters who might be tired of the Graham era. She has already raised nearly $3 million, showing she can actually pull in the resources needed for a statewide run.
But she isn't alone. There’s a whole cast of characters on the Democratic side:
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- Brandon Brown: A former university VP who has run for office before. He knows the political landscape of the state as well as anyone.
- Catherine Fleming Bruce: An author and activist who has consistently pushed for social justice and voting rights.
- Kyle Freeman: A logistics professional who is running a "working-class values" campaign.
- Christopher Giracello: A realtor looking to bring a business-minded approach to the Democratic ticket.
It's a diverse group, but they face a steep climb. Recent polling from late 2025 showed Graham leading a "generic Democrat" by a few points, but when matched specifically against Andrews, the gap was around 6% (42% to 36%), with a massive 22% of voters still undecided. That's a lot of people still sitting on the fence.
The Wildcards: Independents and Libertarians
Don't ignore the "others." In a close race—or even a blowout—third-party candidates can play spoiler. Jason Brenkus and Kasie Whitener are carrying the Libertarian banner, focusing on reducing federal overreach and "less foreign meddling."
On the Independent side, you have people like Jack Ellison and Reece Wright-McDonald. They are banking on the idea that South Carolinians are just fed up with both major parties. It’s a long shot, sure, but in a world where politics feels more like theater than service, that "fed up" demographic is growing.
Why This Race is Different This Time
Usually, Lindsey Graham cruises through his re-elections. But 2026 feels a bit... weirder.
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For one, the GOP is in the middle of a massive identity shift. Graham has hitched his wagon so tightly to the Trump movement that if that movement shifts or if a "purer" MAGA candidate like Paul Dans gains traction, Graham could actually be vulnerable in a June primary.
On the flip side, the Democratic party in South Carolina is trying to modernize. They saw Jamie Harrison raise a record-breaking $130 million in 2020. Even though he lost, it proved that there is a national appetite to fund a challenge against Graham. If Annie Andrews can capture even half of that lightning in a bottle, the airwaves are going to be absolutely saturated.
Key Facts to Keep in Mind
If you're tracking the race for who is running against Lindsey Graham 2026, here are the hard numbers and dates you need:
- Primary Date: June 9, 2026 (Mark your calendars, this is where the real drama happens).
- Runoff Date: June 23, 2026 (If no one gets over 50% in the primary).
- General Election: November 3, 2026.
- The Cash Gap: Graham has about $14.5 million in cash on hand. His nearest Republican rival, Mark Lynch, has about $4.7 million. Dr. Annie Andrews has just over $1 million.
What You Should Do Now
If you actually care about who represents South Carolina in the Senate, don't just wait for the TV ads to start screaming at you.
- Check your registration. South Carolina has open primaries, meaning you can choose which party's ballot to vote on regardless of your registration.
- Look past the soundbites. Go to the websites of candidates like Paul Dans or Annie Andrews. Read their actual policy papers, not just their "About Me" pages.
- Follow the money. Check the FEC (Federal Election Commission) website periodically. Who is funding these campaigns? Is it local South Carolinians or out-of-state PACs? It tells you a lot about who a candidate will actually listen to once they get to D.C.
- Show up. If a candidate is holding a town hall in your county, go. Ask them something specific about your community. Their ability to answer a "real" question is much more telling than a scripted speech.
The 2026 race isn't just a referendum on Lindsey Graham; it's a test of where South Carolina wants to go for the next six years. Whether you want more of the same or a total 180, the names on that ballot are the only way you get to decide.