It’s Time to FIRE Lindsey Graham
For too long, Senator Lindsey Graham has advanced policies and cast votes that conflict with the values of South Carolina Republicans. He continues to present himself as a conservative voice in Washington, but his record tells a very different story.
In 2026, Republican voters will have an opportunity to correct a grave mistake by replacing him with someone who reflects their priorities—and credible challengers are already stepping forward.
Former South Carolina Lieutenant Governor and State Senator Andre Bauer is running for the seat. I recently interviewed Bauer about his decision to enter the race, and he explained clearly why he believes Graham no longer deserves the support of Republican voters.
“In 2022, Senator Graham voted with the Biden administration 70% of the time,” Bauer told me. “He supported the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. That’s not what South Carolina voted for in 2016, 2020, or 2024. The people here overwhelmingly supported President Trump and the America First agenda, but Graham has stood in the way of that agenda time and time again.”
Immigration is one of the clearest examples. Graham has been one of the Republican Party’s most consistent advocates for amnesty—so much so that critics labeled his approach “Grahamnesty.”
Bauer rejected that approach outright. “Absolutely no amnesty,” he said. “We’re a nation of laws. If you do not respect the law when entering the country, what makes anyone believe you will respect the law once you’re here?”
Bauer emphasized that securing the southern border must be the priority—not expanding legal benefits or protections for those who entered the country illegally.
He also called for an immigration system that rewards lawful applicants who assimilate, learn the language, pay taxes, and contribute to society—rather than one that gives preferential treatment to people who violate immigration laws.
Lindsey Graham’s record extends far beyond immigration. On foreign policy, he has consistently supported U.S. military involvement overseas, even when it runs counter to public opinion in his state.
Bauer criticized this pattern and made it clear that he supports a non-interventionist approach grounded in American interests. “I don’t want to see us continue traveling around the world, sending troops, escalating conflicts, and funding wars that don’t serve us,” he said.
Bauer also addressed domestic issues like education, where he strongly supports expanding school choice. “I helped South Carolina become one of the most homeschooling-friendly states in the country,” he said.
“When I was a state senator, I substitute taught one day a week in public schools for free so I could see firsthand what was working and what was failing. I saw how much money was going to the administration instead of the classrooms.”
On federal education policy, Bauer took an even more direct stance. “I want to see the Department of Education eliminated,” he said. “Those funds should go back to the states. Local officials—not Washington bureaucrats—should decide how education is run.”
That position aligns with the views of many conservatives who believe education should be tailored to local needs and free from federal interference. Bauer also expressed support for efforts like Senator Ted Cruz’s Universal School Choice Act, as long as they empower families and redirect funding from federal bureaucracy to parents and students.
Graham, by contrast, has not led on school choice, education reform, or decentralizing authority back to states and families. He has chosen instead to maintain relationships with entrenched interests in Washington while failing to address the concerns of voters in his state.
Another candidate who recently entered the race, Paul Dans, also brings credibility and experience. Dans served in the first Trump administration and is committed to advancing the America First vision that the Republican base overwhelmingly supports.
South Carolina voters now face a choice. They can allow a senator with a decades-long Washington record of compromise and inconsistency to continue misrepresenting them—or they can demand leadership that aligns with their values.
Lindsey Graham has had every opportunity to deliver for South Carolina. He failed. In 2026, Republican voters should hold him accountable. It is time to fire Lindsey Graham.
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