Lindsey Graham wins GOP primary for another Senate term in South Carolina
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) won the Republican nomination to return to the U.S. Senate for another term. The Associated Press called the race after showing him leading businessman Mark Lynch 58.4% to 27.6% with 60% of votes counted.
Graham, first elected in 2002 and chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, is a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, who endorsed him early. Despite the victory, the contest drew controversy: some MAGA-aligned figures criticized Graham for supporting a hawkish foreign policy and the Iran war, including remarks urging voters to send “their sons and daughters to the Mideast” and arguments that costs from the conflict were necessary.
Lynch ran on an “America First” platform opposing the Iran war and foreign interventions, gaining support from several former Trump administration officials and Michael Flynn, framing Graham’s record as “endless war and endless spending.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) won the Republican nomination to represent South Carolina for another term in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
Graham led his primary challenger, businessman Mark Lynch, 58.4% to 27.6% when the Associated Press called the race with 60% of the vote counted.
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First elected in 2002, Graham is the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Graham is also a strong ally of President Donald Trump, who endorsed him for re-election early this cycle.
“President Trump’s endorsement means the world to me. I am humbled by his faith in me as a Senator and as a friend,” Graham said in a post on X.
The contest was not without controversy, however. Graham was targeted by former allies of Trump’s MAGA movement for his hawkish foreign policy and championing of the Iran war.
“Lindsey Graham is one of the people responsible for getting us into this war,” Megyn Kelly said on her podcast earlier this year. “
In March, Graham told voters to “send their sons and daughters to the Mideast.” He has also framed rising costs for consumers as a result of the Iran war as “consequential,” but necessary to stop Tehran from having a nuclear weapon.
UNDECIDED VOTERS COULD PUSH GRAHAM TO HIS FIRST RUNOFF
Lynch attempted to exploit the issue, running an avowedly “America First” campaign critical of the Iran war and foreign intervention. As such, Lynch garnered the endorsement of several ex-Trump administration officials, such as former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent and former Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino. Lynch was also backed by former Trump ally Michael Flynn.
“Endless war and endless spending is Lindsey’s legacy,” said Lynch in a recent X post. “Never forget that.”
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