Lindsey Graham gets GOP primary challenge from André Bauer, South Carolina's former lieutenant gov

CHAPIN, S.C. – Former South Carolina Lt. Gov. André Bauer is mounting a GOP superior situation to Sen. Lindsey Graham, arguing the incumbent isn't blimpish capable to correspond the state.

Bauer, a affluent developer, is simply a longtime backer of President Donald Trump. His candidacy sets up a midterm grudge lucifer with Graham, a four-term legislator whose narration with Trump has undulated done the years, but who has Trump's endorsement for reelection.

Bauer has described himself arsenic “a real, America First conservative” intent connected representing what helium sees arsenic South Carolina conservatives’ existent values.

“I deliberation Graham's been determination excessively long, and helium votes similar it,” Bauer told The Associated Press Tuesday night. “I'm guaranteed, I'm conservative, and I don't deliberation helium is."

Republicans predominate South Carolina’s statewide-elected positions, meaning that the astir aggravated governmental contention takes spot successful GOP primaries.

Graham has faced erstwhile superior challenges from the right, with opponents accusing him of kowtowing to Democrats connected issues from migration to clime change. But helium besides hews to Republican priorities connected nationalist security; up of past month’s U.S. onslaught connected Iranian facilities, Graham called for Trump to “go all-in” successful backing Israel and destroying Iran’s atomic program.

Graham kicked disconnected his reelection campaign successful February, and astatine slightest 1 different Republican has besides announced a superior challenge.

He has already secured Trump’s endorsement. This week, Graham's run announced that Chris LaCivita, a co-campaign manager of Trump’s 2024 bid, would service arsenic a elder adviser.

Bauer said helium understood Trump’s request to usage Capitol Hill relationships to beforehand his legislative priorities, similar the taxation cuts and spending measure that came earlier the Senate Budget Committee — which Graham chairs — earlier passing the chamber earlier Tuesday.

“Trump’s got to enactment and get his bills passed,” Bauer said. “Lindsey’s president of a large committee. ... I get what you person to do."

Bauer has backed Trump since earlier his triumph successful South Carolina’s 2016 GOP primary. At his 2024 campaign's South Carolina motorboat event, Trump called Bauer — who served connected his authorities enactment committee — “a person of mine, idiosyncratic that could I deliberation tally for astir immoderate bureau and win.”

Bauer served successful the South Carolina legislature before, astatine 33, helium was elected the youngest lieutenant politician successful the state successful 2002. After 2 terms, helium mounted an unsuccessful 2010 gubernatorial bid, finishing past successful a four-way GOP superior yet won by Nikki Haley.

Two years later, Bauer ran for Congress, losing a GOP runoff to eventual Rep. Tom Rice successful South Carolina’s recently created 7th District.

Asked however overmuch of his ain wealth helium would commit, Bauer declined to springiness a figure, saying helium would “put tegument successful the campaign” and looked guardant to returning to the trail.

“I’m going to screen this authorities similar the dew covers Dixie,” Bauer said. “I deliberation you’re going to spot a movement.”

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Kinnard tin beryllium reached astatine http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

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