Lindsey Graham projected to win SC GOP Senate primary: AP

Graham has served in the Senate since 2003 and is a close ally of President Donald Trump, despite being widely regarded as one of the most neoconservative foreign policy hawks and a stalwart of the old guard GOP.

Published: June 9, 2026 9:04pm

Updated: June 9, 2026 9:41pm

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is projected to win the South Carolina Republican primary for Senate on Tuesday evening.

The Associated Press called the race for Graham at 8:57 p.m., with 53% of precincts reporting. Graham will go on to the general election, which is expected to favor the Republican.

As of press time, Graham led with 58.6% of the vote to Lynch's 27.4%.

Lynch received a boost when fellow Graham challenger Paul Dans dropped out and endorsed him. Dans had secured the endorsement of Tucker Carlson. Trump later gloated after Dans dropped out, suggesting Carlson's endorsement had tanked the campaign.

Graham has served in the Senate since 2003 and is a close ally of President Donald Trump, despite being widely regarded as one of the most neoconservative foreign policy hawks and a stalwart of the old guard GOP.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.

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