{"id":2452064,"date":"2025-06-25T19:10:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T23:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/andre-bauer-considering-run-for-lindsey-graham-senate-seat\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T19:11:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T23:11:45","slug":"andre-bauer-considering-run-for-lindsey-graham-senate-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/andre-bauer-considering-run-for-lindsey-graham-senate-seat\/","title":{"rendered":"Andre Bauer considering run for Lindsey Graham Senate seat"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fandre-bauer-considering-run-for-lindsey-graham-senate-seat%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2452064&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer is considering a run for the Senate seat currently held by Lindsey Graham in the 2026 primary election. In an interview, Bauer expressed his intention to challenge Graham from the right, criticizing the Senator for his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mccarthy-endorses-cheneys-republican-challenger\/\" title=\"McCarthy Endorses Cheney\u2019s Republican ...r\">hawkish foreign policy<\/a> and suggesting that he has deviated from representing South Carolina&#8217;s interests. Bauer, who has previously served in statewide office, believes there is a growing sentiment for change among voters. He aims to leverage the grassroots discontent with Graham, who has successfully warded off primary challenges in the past but currently has a meaningful support network, including an endorsement from Donald Trump and a robust campaign fund. Othre potential challengers include businessman Mark Lynch, who has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >pledged considerable personal funding<\/a> for his campaign.While Bauer is weighing his options and speaking with community leaders about a potential run, he has not yet fully committed to the race, indicating that he will make a decision soon.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Ex-Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer weighing Lindsey Graham challenge in South Carolina<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2158226\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash; <\/strong>Andre Bauer, the former lieutenant governor of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-carolina\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Carolina<\/a>, is adding his name to the list of Republicans contemplating a bid for Sen.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lindsey Graham<\/a>&lsquo;s (R-SC) seat next year.<\/p>\n<p>In an interview, Bauer told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> he is leaning toward running in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-elections\/\">2026 Senate primary<\/a>, laying the groundwork for what would be a challenge from Graham&rsquo;s right.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3453818\/biden-aides-testifying-house-oversight-executive-privilege-trump\/\">Biden aides testifying before House Oversight denied executive privilege by Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3453378\/massachusetts-scott-brown-senate-bid-new-hampshire\/\">Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown launches Senate bid in New Hampshire<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3452927\/gerry-connolly-dead-tweet-boost-chief-of-staff-virginia-election\/\">House Democrat posts from beyond the grave to boost former chief of staff in Virginia election<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m giving it careful consideration,&rdquo; he said, before criticizing Graham&rsquo;s hawkish stance on foreign policy and bipartisan streak.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s lost his way. It&rsquo;s more foreign wars. It&rsquo;s not supporting an America First agenda,&rdquo; Bauer said.<\/p>\n<p>Graham has repeatedly overcome primary threats over his four terms serving in the Senate, but Bauer represents the highest-profile Republican considering a run this cycle and has won statewide twice.<\/p>\n<p>The other notable challenger is Mark Lynch, a businessman promising to put $5 million of his own money into the race.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Bauer did not want to &ldquo;fully commit&rdquo; to a campaign on Wednesday but said he would announce his decision in the &ldquo;near future&rdquo; and that he was making calls to leaders in the business community and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am calling people that I trust,&rdquo; Bauer said, &ldquo;and overwhelmingly, I&rsquo;ve never seen anything like it &mdash; people feel like it&rsquo;s time for a change. They feel like Lindsey does not represent South Carolina.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Should he choose to run, Bauer plans to tap into years of grassroots discontent with Graham, who has been censured by county parties over the years and periodically booed at President Donald Trump&rsquo;s rallies.<\/p>\n<p>Bauer would nonetheless have to overcome what Graham hopes are insurmountable hurdles in a primary. Graham not only locked down an endorsement from Trump in March, but he also has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/my-last-term-tim-scott-wont-run-for-senate-after-2022-stays-mum-on-2024-presidential-race\/\" title=\"\u2018My Last Term\u2019: Tim ... Won\u2019t ... For ... After 2022, Stays Mum On 2024 Presidential ...\">hefty war chest<\/a> and strong institutional support in South Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>Upon launching his campaign, Graham announced he had $15.6 million to commit toward his reelection and soon tapped Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) to chair his campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Bauer emphasized a 2023 gesture of support from Trump when asked about Graham&rsquo;s endorsement. At an early presidential campaign stop, Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=57VSu-IFbwg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a> Bauer could &ldquo;run for almost any office and win&rdquo; as he thanked members of the South Carolina delegation backing him.<\/p>\n<p>In private, Bauer says Trump has urged him to get back into politics for years. Bauer served as lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2011 and, before that, was a state legislator for six years.<\/p>\n<p>Bauer has yet to connect with Trump about his possible Senate run, but he told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> he spoke with the president briefly about a month ago.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s expressed confidence in me four or five times in a row that I&rsquo;ve seen him,&rdquo; Bauer said.<\/p>\n<p>Graham has easily dispatched his past primary challengers. In 2020, his closest competitor attracted 17% of the vote. He also defied polling showing a tight race against Democrat Jaime Harrison. Graham went on to win the general election by 10 points.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Bauer believes he can drive a wedge between Graham and the MAGA base. In the interview, Bauer painted Graham as a &ldquo;globalist&rdquo; who was out of step with voters for his interest in regime change in Iran.<\/p>\n<p>A Winthrop University <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winthrop.edu\/winthroppoll\/2025-may-winthroppoll-results.aspx\">survey<\/a> taken in late May showed Graham with a 34% approval rating, compared to 45% for Trump.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just not banging that gong anymore. I&rsquo;m not supporting that anymore,&rdquo; Bauer said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m fed up with it, and somebody&rsquo;s got to give the voters of South Carolina an alternative.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>As for fundraising, Bauer framed Graham&rsquo;s war chest as &ldquo;lobbyist&rdquo; money while promising to campaign in all of South Carolina&rsquo;s counties.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s so disliked in South Carolina, he&rsquo;s going to need all the money he can get to reinvent himself,&rdquo; Bauer said.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has contacted the Graham campaign for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Bauer left political office after an unsuccessful campaign to succeed Mark Sanford as governor and lost a House runoff for South Carolina&rsquo;s 7th Congressional District in 2012.<\/p>\n<p>He later emerged as a surrogate for Trump, defending his first term in office as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/tv\/tv-news\/cnn-cuts-ties-two-more-pro-trump-contributors-1182341\/\">contributor<\/a> for CNN.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Spartanburg GOP hosted a Republican Gubernatorial debate Friday April 23, 2010 at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, S.C. The four participants were Gresham Barrett, Andre Bauer, Nikki Haley, and Henry McMaster. (AP Photo\/ Richard Shiro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When asked about his interest in a political comeback, Bauer suggested his time spent out of government made him an outsider, repeatedly describing himself as a small-business owner and family man.<\/p>\n<p>Bauer said he had not spoken with Scott, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, but described getting a call from an unnamed South Carolina congressman he said wanted him to stay out of the race.<\/p>\n<p>He claimed the lawmaker warned him it would be a &ldquo;vicious race &hellip; and that if you don&rsquo;t take the king out, life can be very difficult.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3424959\/alabama-attorney-general-steve-marshall-launches-run-tuberville-senate-seat\/\"><strong>ALABAMA AG STEVE MARSHALL LAUNCHES RUN FOR TUBERVILLE SENATE SEAT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And again, that tells me they&rsquo;re concerned,&rdquo; Bauer said.<\/p>\n<p>On the Democratic side, Annie Andrews announced she would challenge Graham in May after an unsuccessful run for Rep. Nancy Mace&rsquo;s (R-SC) seat in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>The Senate race will take place alongside an opening for governor, with both Mace and Rep. Ralph Norman among the South Carolina Republicans considering a run for higher office.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2158226\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2158226\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ex-Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer considers challenging Lindsey Graham for his Senate seat in South Carolina<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2452065,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP100423020583-1024x591.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[57918,32283,32603,35374],"class_list":["post-2452064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-andre-bauer","tag-lindsey-graham","tag-political-news","tag-senate-seat"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP100423020583-1024x591.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2452064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2452064"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2452064\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2452068,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2452064\/revisions\/2452068"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2452065"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2452064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2452064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2452064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}