South Carolina Republican Senate Primary Poll Update
The most recent poll for the South Carolina Republican Senate primary indicates that Senator Lindsey Graham is maintaining a strong lead over his challenger, Mark Lynch. Graham is ahead across a variety of demographic groups, which is, according to experts, quite uncommon.
A new Insider Advantage poll conducted among likely Republican primary voters from May 13-14 revealed that Graham is supported by 56% of respondents. Lynch garnered just 13%, while 8% chose other candidates and 23% remained undecided or had no opinion.
“It’s quite rare to see someone like Mr. Graham leading across all demographic segments,” noted Matt Towery, a pollster with Insider Advantage. He highlighted that more than 60% of those surveyed believe Graham’s support from former President Trump is a strong indicator of his potential electoral success. “His main task now is to ensure voter turnout,” Towery added.
In April, Trump endorsed Graham and criticized Lynch in a post on Truth Social, praising Graham’s performance and labeling Lynch a “lunatic” and a supporter of Representative Thomas Massie, whom Trump disparaged. Trump emphasized that Lynch would not be good for the Republican Party, while emphasizing support for Graham.
Lynch has also voiced his opinions about Graham. During a May 2025 appearance on Breitbart News Saturday, he suggested that many Americans are disillusioned with Graham and described his platform as insincere. He argued that while Trump may lean on Graham, the senator does not consistently support Trump, asserting that Trump’s backing might not be sufficient this time around.
A prior poll conducted for Lynch’s campaign by Pulse Opinion Research showed a different picture, with Graham leading 41% to 21% over Lynch before nuanced candidate details were revealed. However, once informed about the candidates’ backgrounds, Lynch then led Graham 34% to 23%, showcasing the potential for voter sentiment to shift based on more information.
Mark Mitchell from Rasmussen Reports pointed out that although Graham has name recognition, he’s one of the weaker incumbents he’s observed in recent cycles. “This presents a significant opportunity for Lynch,” Mitchell stated.
