Trump-endorsed U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is running for his fifth term, but before he gets to the general election Graham is up against former Project 2025 director Paul Dans in the 2026 GOP primary.
Dans, who in a podcast appearance Monday told former Rep. Matt Gaetz that MAGA voters won’t fall for Graham — “no matter how much lipstick they put on him, MAGA will never fall for Lindsey” — also received support from Trump’s former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.
WE ARE BACK ON WITH @mattgaetz
TOMORROW CHECK US OUT AT 9pm EASTERN on @OANN pic.twitter.com/WQoPpd8Kvo— Paul Dans for US Senate (@DansForSenate) February 2, 2026
Bannon slammed Graham while praising Dans, of whom he said: “He’s fighting like hell in this race against Lindsey Graham for the Senate. It almost makes my head blow up to know that Lindsey Graham’s leading in this race.”
I AM GOING TO RIP THIS SENATE SEAT OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE LOBBYISTS AND THEIR PUPPET LADY LINDSEY AND GIVE IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA https://t.co/hriwhAbxL0
— Paul Dans for US Senate (@DansForSenate) January 31, 2026
Some notable South Carolina Republicans say Dans doesn’t have a chance. At a Republican Party event in January, Roxanne Wilson — wife of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, who represents South Carolina’s 2nd District — reportedly interrupted Dans as he spoke and yelled, “You can’t beat Graham.” The incumbent notably has a significant fundraising edge.
If Graham wins the primary he will likely face the current top Democratic candidate, pediatrician Dr. Annie Andrews, who has reported raising more than $4 million since launching her campaign, and boasts of accepting no money from corporate PACs. The average donation to her campaign is under $26.
Every single one of these swings would make me a Senator and retire Lindsey Graham.
https://t.co/U9tx7a8RMz — Dr. Annie Andrews (@AnnieAndrewsMD) February 2, 2026
Andrews is aware that South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1998, but Democrats including Andrews are inspired by the recent wave of Democratic wins in special elections in Red States including Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Iowa.
With a list of the Democratic flips (above), Andrews wrote: “Every single one of these swings would make me a Senator and retire Lindsey Graham.” She added, “It will only take a 5.1 swing from his last re-election.”
Note: Graham won his fourth term in 2020 after beating his Democratic opponent Jaime Harrison, who in 2021 became the chair of the Democratic National Committee. Harrison has endorsed Andrews.