Incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham won South Carolina’s Republican Senate primary Tuesday, defeating challenger Mark Lynch in a race that drew national attention as Republicans work to maintain control of the Senate heading into 2026.
Graham, 70, entered Election Day with endorsements from President Donald Trump and much of the state’s Republican establishment. South Carolina is a solidly Republican state, making the general election favorable for the eventual GOP nominee.
What Happened
South Carolina Republicans voted Tuesday in the closely watched primary contest. Graham’s campaign emphasized his conservative record and commitment to preventing what he described as radical left policies.
Lynch, a businessman who made his first run for statewide office, faced mounting scrutiny in the final weeks of the race. A Washington Reporter investigation alleged Lynch failed to disclose between $50,000 and $100,000 in unpaid federal taxes for 2025 and did not fully document roughly $5 million in personal campaign contributions.
An ethics complaint was filed requesting that the Senate Ethics Committee investigate Lynch’s financial disclosures and campaign funding sources, according to reporting on the matter.
The Controversy Surrounding Lynch
Lynch acknowledged a 1984 felony cocaine trafficking conviction, describing it as part of a personal journey involving addiction and rehabilitation. He claimed to have received a presidential pardon, but Justice Department pardon records failed to document such a pardon.
Lynch also faced questions about a 1985 South Carolina case involving allegations he left the scene of an accident with injuries. He denied hit-and-run allegations, and court records showed he resolved the indictment by pleading guilty to other charges.
Additional criticism focused on Lynch’s past comments supporting cocaine legalization, which he later argued were misrepresented. Graham’s campaign released advertising highlighting Lynch’s struggles answering basic constitutional questions in a recorded interview.
National Figures Weigh In
Trump endorsed Graham and sharply criticized Lynch in social media posts, calling him a
