Senator Lindsey Graham clinched the South Carolina Republican Senate primary Tuesday, defeating five challengers including self‑financed businessman Mark Lynch. The win averts a runoff and positions Graham for the November general in a state that has voted Republican in every Senate race since 1954. His four‑term incumbency and seniority on the Armed Services Committee were cited as assets.

Since January 2025 Graham’s campaign and allied groups have poured more than $18 million into TV and digital ads, according to AdImpact, a surge that helped silence calls for a runoff. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Graham, contrasting with his earlier criticism of the senator in 2016, and branded rival Lynch a “lunatic” on social media. The spending outpaced any South Carolina Senate race since 2010.

Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, will face Graham in November, but the GOP stalwart enjoys a sizable advantage in the deep‑red electorate. With Trump’s backing and a well‑funded war chest, Graham is poised to retain his Senate seat, preserving his seniority and influence on national security committees. The result also guarantees the GOP retains its narrow Senate majority.