2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina

For related races, see 2026 United States Senate elections.

2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina
November 3, 2026
 
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent U.S. senator

Lindsey Graham
Republican



The 2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of South Carolina. Primary elections will be held on June 9, 2026, with a runoff election on June 23 if no candidate wins a majority in their respective primary. Incumbent four-term Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who was re-elected in 2020, is running for a fifth term in office.[1]

Background

South Carolina is generally considered to be a Republican stronghold, having not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1998. Republican nominee Donald Trump won South Carolina in 2020 by 12 percentage points, and in 2024 grew his margin to 18 percentage points. Republicans control every statewide office (except the state's comptroller office), supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature, both U.S. Senate seats, and all but one seat in South Carolina's U.S. House congressional delegation.[2][3]

Senator Lindsey Graham was first elected in 2002, defeating Democrat Alex Sanders by about 10 percentage points. He was re-elected in 2008, 2014, and most recently in 2020 defeating Jaime Harrison by 10 percentage points in what was expected to be a dead heat.[4] In January 2025, he declared that he was running for reelection.[5]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Potential

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Lindsey Graham
Executive branch officials
U.S. senators
Statewide officials
Organizations
Paul Dans
Individuals

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Lindsey Graham (R) $19,638,470 $18,722,190 $13,407,737
Ethan Holliman (R) $20,270 $20,270 $0
Mark Lynch (R) $5,573,433 $999,022 $4,574,411
Paul Dans (R) $628,955 $325,218 $303,738
Source: Federal Election Commission[22]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Paul
Dans 		Lindsey
Graham 		Mark
Lynch 		Other Undecided
Quantus Insights (R)[23][A] October 1–4, 2025 600 (RV) ± 4.2% 7%[b] 58% 15% – 20%
6% 51% 11% – 32%
Big Data Poll (R)[24][B] September 26–29, 2025 827 (RV) ± 3.5% 22% 46% 4% – 28%
Quantus Insights (R)[25][26][A] June 10–13, 2025 600 (RV) ± 3.8% – 48% 23% – 29%
Big Data Poll (R)[24][B] June 8–11, 2025 – (V) ± 3.5% 9% 50% 11% – 30%
Pulse Opinion Research (R)[27][C] May 15–21, 2025 1,062 (LV) – – 43% 29% 5% 23%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Potential

Withdrawn

  • Lee Johnson, engineer[34]

Endorsements

Annie Andrews
Individuals
Organizations
Lee Johnson (withdrawn)

State legislators

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Annie Andrews (D) $4,306,090 $2,725,152 $1,580,938
Catherine Fleming Bruce (D)[note 1] $0 $0 $5,030
Kyle Freeman (D)[note 1] $34,491 $33,837 $654
Brandon Brown (D) $8,490 $0 $0
Christopher Giracello (D)[note 2] $0 $0 $0
Source: Federal Election Commission[22]
  1. ^ a b As of February 3, 2026, latest FEC report is for the quarter ending September 30, 2025.
  2. ^ As of February 3, 2026, candidate has filed no FEC reports for this campaign.

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Declared

Filed paperwork

Independents

Candidates

Filed paperwork

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Inside Elections[46] Solid R August 12, 2025
The Cook Political Report[47] Solid R October 14, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[48] Safe R August 12, 2025
Race to the WH[49] Likely R September 4, 2025

Polling

Lindsey Graham vs. Annie Andrews

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Lindsey
Graham (R) 		Annie
Andrews (D) 		Undecided
Impact Research (D)[50][D] February 25 – March 1, 2026 700 (LV) ± 3.7% 47% 42% 11%
Public Policy Polling (D)[51][E] November 21–22, 2025 704 (V) ± 3.7% 42% 36% 22%

Lindsey Graham vs. generic Democrat

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Lindsey
Graham (R) 		Generic
Democrat 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)[51][E] November 21–22, 2025 704 (V) ± 3.7% 41% 39% 20%

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ With voters who lean towards a given candidate

Partisan clients

  1. ^ a b Poll sponsored by Trending Politics, a conservative news website
  2. ^ a b Poll sponsored by Dans's campaign
  3. ^ Poll commissioned by Lynch's campaign
  4. ^ Poll sponsored by Andrews's campaign
  5. ^ a b Poll sponsored by 314 Action, which supports Andrews

References

  1. ^ Connaughton, Kevin (January 14, 2025). "Lindsey Graham announces campaign team, funding for 2026 re-election bid". Greenville, South Carolina: WHNS. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  2. ^ Kenmore, Abraham; Adcox, Seanna (November 6, 2024). "Trump wins SC for 3rd time, on his way to stunning White House victory". South Carolina Daily Gazette. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  3. ^ Holdman, Jessica; Kenmore, Abraham (November 6, 2024). "SC Republicans celebrate red wave that gives GOP biggest advantage in 150 years". South Carolina Daily Gazette. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  4. ^ Lobosco, Katie (November 4, 2020). "Lindsey Graham defeats Jaime Harrison in South Carolina". CNN. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  5. ^ Connaughton, Kevin (January 14, 2025). "Lindsey Graham announces campaign team, funding for 2026 re-election bid". WIS-TV. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  6. ^ Mascaro, Lisa; Kinnard, Meg (July 28, 2025). "Project 2025 author Paul Dans will challenge Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina". Associated Press.
  7. ^ Atkinson, Mason (January 13, 2025). "Lindsey Graham announces campaign team, funding for 2026 re-election bid". The Post and Courier. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  8. ^ Maultsby, Baker (February 5, 2025). "Greenville businessman to take on Graham for Senate seat in 2026 Republican primary". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  9. ^ Hyslip, Tom (February 23, 2025). "Thomas Murphy Announces Primary Challenge Against Senator Lindsey Graham in 2026 Race". WRHI. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  10. ^ Folks, Will (February 10, 2026). "Mark Sanford Mulls U.S. Senate Bid Against Lindsey Graham". FITSNews. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  11. ^ Valeski, Lucy (August 8, 2025). "Former Lt. Gov. André Bauer drops out of SC Senate race to slim field". The State.
  12. ^ Bustos, Joseph (May 14, 2025). "This Upstate Democrat is looking to oust Trump-backed Sen. Lindsey Graham". The State. Retrieved May 23, 2025. Ethan Holliman, of Conway, also has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run as a Republican for the seat and has loaned his campaign $20,000.
  13. ^ Holliman, Ethan (December 2025). "LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved March 2, 2025. Committee Initiated Termination in progress with the Federal Election Commission as of December 2025
  14. ^ Atkinson, Macon (July 25, 2025). "Rock Hill Republican and MAGA congressman Ralph Norman is running for SC governor". The Post and Courier. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Kesler, Alex (March 16, 2025). "Sen. Graham files for reelection". ABC7. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  16. ^ Kayanja, Ian (March 26, 2025). "President Trump endorses Lindsey Graham as senator eyes 2026 reelection bid". WCIV. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Kinnard, Meg (February 4, 2025). "Sen. Tim Scott and South Carolina's governor will chair Lindsey Graham's reelection bid". Associated Press. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  18. ^ "Thank You for Supporting Pro-Israel Candidates". AIPAC Political Portal. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  19. ^ "2026 GOP Clean Energy Leaders". ClearPath Action Fund. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  20. ^ a b Robelot, Jane (March 31, 2025). "Sen. Lindsey Graham gets endorsements from three national, state anti-abortion groups". WYFF4. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  21. ^ Gertz, Matt (November 7, 2025). "The next phase of the Fuentes-Carlson saga targets Lindsey Graham's Senate seat". Media Matters for America. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  22. ^ a b "2026 Election United States Senate - South Carolina". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  23. ^ Corley, Jason (October 7, 2025). "South Carolina Republican Primary Survey". Quantus Insights. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  24. ^ a b Baris, Rich (September 30, 2025). "A Challenger Emerges in the Republican Primary for U.S. Senate in South Carolina" (PDF). Big Data Poll. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  25. ^ "Lindsey Graham Faces a Shifting GOP Landscape in South Carolina". Quantus Insights. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  26. ^ Corley, Jason (June 17, 2025). "Quantus Insights – South Carolina". Quantus Insights. Retrieved June 18, 2025 – via Google Drive.
  27. ^ @PollTracker2024 (May 27, 2025). "Pulse Opinion Research poll South Carolina Republican Senate primary 2026 (Mark Lynch internal) Lindsay Graham 43% Mark Lynch 29% Undecided 23% 5/15-5/21 LV" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  28. ^ Bustos, Joseph (May 29, 2025). "This SC pediatrician ran for Congress in 2022. Now she wants to oust Sen. Graham". The State. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  29. ^ Quinn, Abigail (July 9, 2025). "Brandon Brown to challenge Lindsey Graham for South Carolina Senate seat". WCIV. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  30. ^ Young, Natasha (September 16, 2025). "Who's Running for South Carolina's Top Offices in the 2026 Elections". WSAV-TV. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  31. ^ Carpentier, Bella (May 15, 2025). "Greenville engineer joins 2026 race for Lindsey Graham's U.S. Senate seat". Greenville News. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  32. ^ a b Maxwell, Tiana (July 22, 2025). "Lincolnville community hears from Graham seat race candidates in senatorial forum". WCSC-TV. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  33. ^ "Former Rep. Joe Walsh is considering a bid against GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham". POLITICO. June 11, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  34. ^ Bustos, Joseph (July 16, 2025). "After two months, this Upstate Democrat drops out of SC US Senate race". The State. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  35. ^ "Jaime Harrison Endorses Dr. Annie Andrews For U.S. Senate". The MinorityEye. June 4, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  36. ^ "314 Action Fund Endorses Dr. Annie Andrews for U.S. Senate, as a Guardian of Public Health". 314 Action. June 18, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  37. ^ "EMILYs List Endorses Dr. Annie Andrews in South Carolina's U.S. Senate Race". emilyslist.org. March 17, 2026. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  38. ^ "Candidates". Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs.
  39. ^ "Candidates". Vote Mama PAC. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  40. ^ a b Jacquot, Bryce (May 29, 2025). "Democrat Lee Johnson gains key endorsements in U.S. Senate race against Lindsey Graham". WCIV. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  41. ^ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1927273". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  42. ^ "Ellison, Jack FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1875355". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  43. ^ "FEC FORM 2 STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY FILING FEC-1895047".
  44. ^ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1952771". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  45. ^ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1850754". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  46. ^ "Senate Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  47. ^ "2026 CPR Senate Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  48. ^ "2026 Senate ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  49. ^ "2026 Senate Forecast". Race to the WH. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  50. ^ "Recent Polling in South Carolina" (PDF). Impact Research. March 11, 2026. Retrieved March 17, 2026 – via DocumentCloud.
  51. ^ a b Williams, Jim (December 8, 2025). "Lindsey Graham Deeply Unpopular Heading into Reelection Year" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
Official campaign websites
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