Senator Lindsey Graham Secures Republican Nomination for Fifth Term
Incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham, backed by Donald Trump, has successfully won the Republican nomination, overcoming four challengers as he aims for a fifth term in the U.S. Senate.
During the recent primary election, Graham garnered 168,078 votes, which accounts for 58.4% of the votes counted thus far, according to the Associated Press.
In contrast, investor Calvin Cowen received only 3% of the vote, while author Thomas Dismukes claimed 4.8%. Horry County Republican Party member Patrick Herrmann attracted 3.8%, and family businessman Mark Lynch got 27.4%.
At 70 years old, Graham has been representing South Carolina in the Senate since his swearing-in in 2003. Notably, he was the first candidate in the state’s history to surpass a million votes in the 2008 election. Interestingly, he was also the first in his family to attend college, earning both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina.
Now, in his role as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, he also sits on the Appropriations, Judiciary, and Environment and Public Works committees.
Before joining the Senate, Graham held a position in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1993 and then in the U.S. House of Representatives starting in 1995. That same year, he joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves, fulfilling his duties during military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, until retiring in 2015 at the rank of Colonel.
One significant piece of legislation he introduced is the Laken Riley Act of 2025. This act mandates the Department of Homeland Security to detain non-U.S. citizens unlawfully present and charged with specific serious crimes. The act draws its name from Laken Riley, a nursing student tragically murdered by an illegal alien who could have been detained for prior offenses.
Additionally, Graham sponsored the Secure America Act aimed at fully funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through fiscal year 2029.
Trump reminded voters in South Carolina of Graham’s accomplishments in a recent message, referring to him as a “wonderful friend” who fights for the economy, security, and veterans, among other priorities.
“Lindsey has always been there when I needed him. As the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, he fights tirelessly to grow the economy and maintain border security,” Trump noted.
For the Democrats, Annie Andrews secured the nomination with 167,768 votes, translating to 60%. She outperformed Brandon Brown, who received 31%, and Freeman, who got 8.4%.
Andrews, a pediatrician and mother, emphasizes the belief that “Healthcare is a right, not a privilege” on her campaign platform. She plans to expand Medicaid and Medicare, contrasting Graham, who previously proposed legislation that would have ended scheduled Medicaid expansion but fell short.
She also plans to advocate for the restoration of Roe v. Wade, ensuring women’s rights regarding abortion, opposing Graham, who has repeatedly supported federal abortion regulations.
“As a doctor and a mom, I’ve been there for women during tough times. I’ve seen the repercussions when politicians interfere with personal medical choices,” she said.
