Former South Carolina lieutenant governor Andre Bauer said he will seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Lindsey Graham, positioning himself as a more conservative alternative to the four-term incumbent. In a statement released 2 July, Bauer argued that Graham “isn't conservative enough to represent the state.” His launch video includes a clip of former President Donald Trump calling Bauer “a friend of mine” who “would run for any office and win,” signalling an appeal to Trump-aligned voters ahead of next year’s primary. Graham, a Senate veteran first elected in 2002, has not responded publicly to the challenge. South Carolina’s Republican primary is expected to draw heightened national attention as the party debates its direction heading into the 2026 midterm elections.