Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) secured the Republican nomination for another term in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, defeating his primary challenger, businessman Mark Lynch, with 58.4% of the vote compared to Lynch's 27.6%, according to the Associated Press, which called the race with 60% of the votes counted.
Graham, who has served since 2002 and is currently the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, received an endorsement from President Donald Trump early in the election cycle. Graham stated, "President Trump’s endorsement means the world to me. I am humbled by his faith in me as a Senator and as a friend," in a post on X.
The primary was marked by controversy, as Graham faced criticism from some former allies of Trump's MAGA movement for his foreign policy stance, particularly regarding the Iran war. Megyn Kelly remarked on her podcast that Graham was among those responsible for the U.S. involvement in the conflict. In March, Graham had urged voters to support military involvement in the Mideast, framing the rising costs for consumers as a necessary consequence to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Lynch, running an “America First” campaign, criticized Graham's foreign intervention policies and received endorsements from several former Trump administration officials, including Joe Kent and Gregory Bovino, as well as support from Michael Flynn. Lynch stated, "Endless war and endless spending is Lindsey’s legacy," in a recent post on X.