2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina
The2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of theUnited States Senate to represent the state ofSouth Carolina .Primary elections will be held on June 9, 2026, with arunoff election on June 23 if no candidate wins a majority in their respective primary. Incumbent four-termRepublican SenatorLindsey Graham , who was re-elected in2020 , is running for a fifth term in office.[ 1]
South Carolina is generally considered to be aRepublican stronghold , having not elected aDemocrat to the U.S. Senate since1998 . Republican nomineeDonald Trump won South Carolina in2020 by 12 percentage points, and in2024 grew his margin to 18 percentage points. Republicans control every statewide office (except thestate's comptroller office ), supermajorities in both chambers of thestate legislature , bothU.S. Senate seats, and all but one seat in South Carolina'sU.S. House congressional delegation .[ 2] [ 3]
Senator Lindsey Graham was first elected in2002 , defeating DemocratAlex Sanders by about 10 percentage points. He was re-elected in2008 ,2014 , and most recently in2020 defeatingJamie 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]
Ethan Holliman, graduate student[ 10] Lindsey Graham
Executive branch officials U.S. senators Statewide officials Organizations 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 [ 20]
Poll source Date(s) administered Sample size[ a] Margin of error Paul Dans Lindsey Graham Mark Lynch Other Undecided Quantus Insights (R)[ 21] [ A] October 1–4, 2025 600 (RV) ± 4.2% 7%[ b] 58% 15% – 20% 6% 51% 11% – 32% Big Data Poll (R)[ 22] [ B] September 26–29, 2025 827 (RV) ± 3.5% 22% 46% 4% – 28% Quantus Insights (R)[ 23] [ 24] [ A] June 10–13, 2025 600 (RV) ± 3.8% – 48% 23% – 29% Big Data Poll (R)[ 22] [ B] June 8–11, 2025 – (V) ± 3.5% 9% 50% 11% – 30% Pulse Opinion Research (R)[ 25] [ C] May 15–21, 2025 1,062 (LV) – – 43% 29% 5% 23%
Lee Johnson, engineer[ 31] 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 [ 20]
^a b As of February 3, 2026, latest FEC report is for the quarter ending September 30, 2025. ^ As of February 3, 2026, candidate has filed no FEC reports for this campaign. Libertarian primary [ edit ] Lindsey Graham vs. Annie Andrews
Poll source Date(s) administered Sample size[ a] Marginof error Lindsey Graham (R) Annie Andrews (D) Undecided Public Policy Polling (D)[ 45] [ D] November 21–22, 2025 704 (V) ± 3.7% 42% 36% 22%
Lindsey Graham vs. generic Democrat
Poll source Date(s) administered Sample size[ a] Marginof error Lindsey Graham (R) Generic Democrat Undecided Public Policy Polling (D)[ 45] [ D] November 21–22, 2025 704 (V) ± 3.7% 41% 39% 20%
^a b c Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear ^ With voters who lean towards a given candidate Partisan clients
^a b Poll sponsored by Trending Politics, a conservative news website ^a b Poll sponsored by Dans's campaign ^ Poll commissioned by Lynch's campaign ^a b Poll sponsored by314 Action , which supports Andrews ^ Connaughton, Kevin (January 14, 2025)."Lindsey Graham announces campaign team, funding for 2026 re-election bid" . Greenville, South Carolina:WHNS . RetrievedJanuary 15, 2025 . ^ 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 . RetrievedDecember 21, 2024 . ^ Holdman, Jessica; Kenmore, Abraham (November 6, 2024)."SC Republicans celebrate red wave that gives GOP biggest advantage in 150 years" .South Carolina Daily Gazette . RetrievedDecember 7, 2024 . ^ Lobosco, Katie (November 4, 2020)."Lindsey Graham defeats Jaime Harrison in South Carolina" . CNN. RetrievedDecember 21, 2024 . ^ Connaughton, Kevin (January 14, 2025)."Lindsey Graham announces campaign team, funding for 2026 re-election bid" . WIS-TV. RetrievedJune 17, 2025 . ^ Mascaro, Lisa; Kinnard, Meg (July 28, 2025)."Project 2025 author Paul Dans will challenge Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina" .Associated Press . ^ Atkinson, Mason (January 13, 2025)."Lindsey Graham announces campaign team, funding for 2026 re-election bid" .The Post and Courier . RetrievedJanuary 15, 2025 . ^ Maultsby, Baker (February 5, 2025)."Greenville businessman to take on Graham for Senate seat in 2026 Republican primary" .Spartanburg Herald-Journal . RetrievedFebruary 5, 2025 . ^ Hyslip, Tom (February 23, 2025)."Thomas Murphy Announces Primary Challenge Against Senator Lindsey Graham in 2026 Race" .WRHI . RetrievedFebruary 23, 2025 . ^ Bustos, Joseph (May 14, 2025)."This Upstate Democrat is looking to oust Trump-backed Sen. Lindsey Graham" .The State . RetrievedMay 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. ^ Folks, Will (February 10, 2026)."Mark Sanford Mulls U.S. Senate Bid Against Lindsey Graham" .FITSNews . RetrievedFebruary 13, 2026 . ^ Valeski, Lucy (August 8, 2025)."Former Lt. Gov. André Bauer drops out of SC Senate race to slim field" .The State . ^ Atkinson, Macon (July 25, 2025)."Rock Hill Republican and MAGA congressman Ralph Norman is running for SC governor" .The Post and Courier . RetrievedJuly 25, 2025 . ^ Kayanja, Ian (March 26, 2025)."President Trump endorses Lindsey Graham as senator eyes 2026 reelection bid" .WCIV . RetrievedMarch 27, 2025 . ^a b Kinnard, Meg (February 4, 2025)."Sen. Tim Scott and South Carolina's governor will chair Lindsey Graham's reelection bid" .Associated Press . RetrievedFebruary 4, 2025 . ^ "Thank You for Supporting Pro-Israel Candidates" .AIPAC Political Portal . RetrievedApril 28, 2025 .^ "2026 GOP Clean Energy Leaders" . ClearPath Action Fund. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2026 .^a b Robelot, Jane (March 31, 2025)."Sen. Lindsey Graham gets endorsements from three national, state anti-abortion groups" . WYFF4. RetrievedAugust 8, 2025 . ^ Gertz, Matt (November 7, 2025)."The next phase of the Fuentes-Carlson saga targets Lindsey Graham's Senate seat" . Media Matters for America. RetrievedJanuary 14, 2026 . ^a b "2026 Election United States Senate - South Carolina" .Federal Election Commission . RetrievedApril 23, 2025 .^ Corley, Jason (October 7, 2025)."South Carolina Republican Primary Survey" .Quantus Insights . RetrievedOctober 7, 2025 . ^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 . RetrievedNovember 19, 2025 . ^ "Lindsey Graham Faces a Shifting GOP Landscape in South Carolina" .Quantus Insights . June 17, 2025. RetrievedJune 18, 2025 .^ Corley, Jason (June 17, 2025)."Quantus Insights – South Carolina" .Quantus Insights . RetrievedJune 18, 2025 – viaGoogle Drive . ^ @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 ) – viaTwitter . ^ Bustos, Joseph (May 29, 2025)."This SC pediatrician ran for Congress in 2022. Now she wants to oust Sen. Graham" .The State . RetrievedMay 29, 2025 . ^ Quinn, Abigail (July 9, 2025)."Brandon Brown to challenge Lindsey Graham for South Carolina Senate seat" .WCIV . RetrievedJuly 9, 2025 . ^ Young, Natasha (September 16, 2025)."Who's Running for South Carolina's Top Offices in the 2026 Elections" . WSAV-TV. RetrievedOctober 9, 2025 . ^ Carpentier, Bella (May 15, 2025)."Greenville engineer joins 2026 race for Lindsey Graham's U.S. Senate seat" .Greenville News . RetrievedJune 4, 2025 . ^a b Maxwell, Tiana (July 22, 2025)."Lincolnville community hears from Graham seat race candidates in senatorial forum" .WCSC-TV . RetrievedOctober 9, 2025 . ^ Bustos, Joseph (July 16, 2025)."After two months, this Upstate Democrat drops out of SC US Senate race" .The State . RetrievedOctober 13, 2025 . ^ "Jaime Harrison Endorses Dr. Annie Andrews For U.S. Senate" .The MinorityEye . June 4, 2025. RetrievedSeptember 8, 2025 .^ "314 Action Fund Endorses Dr. Annie Andrews for U.S. Senate, as a Guardian of Public Health" . 314 Action. June 18, 2025. RetrievedSeptember 8, 2025 .^ "Candidates" . Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs.^ "Candidates" . Vote Mama PAC. RetrievedJune 13, 2025 .^a b Jacquot, Bryce (May 29, 2025)."Democrat Lee Johnson gains key endorsements in U.S. Senate race against Lindsey Graham" .WCIV . RetrievedSeptember 8, 2025 . ^ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1927273" . Federal Election Commission. RetrievedDecember 2, 2025 .^ "Ellison, Jack FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1875355" . Federal Election Commission. RetrievedMarch 30, 2025 .^ "FEC FORM 2 STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY FILING FEC-1895047" .^ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1850754" . Federal Election Commission. RetrievedMarch 30, 2025 .^ "Senate Ratings" .Inside Elections . RetrievedJanuary 14, 2025 .^ "2026 CPR Senate Race Ratings" .Cook Political Report . RetrievedFebruary 11, 2025 .^ "2026 Senate ratings" .Sabato's Crystal Ball . RetrievedFebruary 13, 2025 .^ "2026 Senate Forecast" .Race to the WH . RetrievedMarch 19, 2025 .^a b Williams, Jim (December 8, 2025)."Lindsey Graham Deeply Unpopular Heading into Reelection Year" (PDF) .Public Policy Polling . RetrievedDecember 12, 2025 . Official campaign websites
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