Lindsey Graham Primary Election In S.C. Called
🚨BREAKING: 🟥Lindsey Graham* is the projected winner of the Republican primary for US Senate in South Carolina.
— Election Time (@ElectionTime_) June 9, 2026
Graham is running for reelection to a fifth term and will easily win the general election in November. pic.twitter.com/2LIcHfglcP
Lynch has previously acknowledged a 1984 felony cocaine trafficking conviction, which he has described as part of a personal journey involving addiction, rehabilitation, and redemption.
He has also claimed that he later received a presidential pardon.
According to the Washington Reporter, searches of publicly available Justice Department pardon records have failed to uncover documentation confirming that a presidential pardon was granted to Lynch.
However, recent reports have raised questions about that claim
Reports have also indicated that Lynch recently acknowledged that neither he nor his attorney has been able to locate records supporting the claim. Additional scrutiny has focused on a 1985 South Carolina case involving allegations that Lynch left the scene of an accident involving injuries.
According to State of the Day, court records show that Lynch ultimately resolved the original indictment by pleading guilty to other charges.
Lynch has also faced criticism for his past comments supporting the legalization of cocaine, which he later argued were taken out of context.
Lynch has denied that the incident constituted a hit-and-run
Graham and his allies have worked to make Lynch’s background a central issue in the race.
The senator recently released an advertisement highlighting Lynch’s difficulty answering basic constitutional questions during a recorded interview.
The president endorsed Graham and sharply criticized Lynch, calling him a “LUNATIC” and warning that he would be a “DISASTER for the Republican Party.”
Critics have additionally raised questions about staffing decisions made during his campaign, arguing they reflected poor judgment
Over the weekend, however, Lynch received a high-profile endorsement from former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Abby Zilch, a spokesperson for Graham’s campaign, framed the race as a battle between Republicans aligned with Trump and factions she described as opposing the president’s agenda.
“Senator Graham believes that South Carolina is Trump country, not MTG/Massie country,” Zilch said.
Trump has also weighed in strongly on the contest
Tim Scott, and what she described as legions of pro-Trump Republicans throughout the state.
Polls indicate Graham maintains a sizable advantage heading into Election Day.
However, under South Carolina election rules, Graham must secure more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff election.
