SOUTH CAROLINA — U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham is seeking a fifth term in the U.S. Senate as the Republican primary election approaches on June 9. Recent polls indicate a competitive race, with the possibility of a runoff election on June 23 if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote.
A poll from The Citadel shows Graham with 46 percent support and challenger Mark Lynch with 36 percent. Another May poll, conducted by the Trafalgar Group, reported Graham at 52 percent and Lynch at 28 percent.
Lynch, who owns an appliance store in Greenville, is financing his election campaign with $5 million from his and his wife's retirement accounts. Lynch previously pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking in 1984. Campaign advertisements funded by organizations supporting Graham have referenced Lynch's 1984 drug conviction. Three political groups collectively spent $5.6 million on negative advertising targeting Lynch.
Federal Election Commission filings indicate the Graham campaign has spent $27 million during this primary cycle. Graham began the current election cycle with $15.6 million in existing campaign funds and has raised over $20 million. American Mission and Fellowship PAC provided $924,287 in advertising support for Graham.
Lynch criticized Graham's foreign policy stances. "People are tired of him getting the United States into endless, needless wars." Lynch said. Graham has publicly advocated for a U.S.-Israel military conflict against Iran. Political scientist Scott Huffmon commented that "He knows which way the political wind blows."
Abby Zilch, a spokesperson for Graham's campaign, said, "Mark Lynch is a perpetually failed candidate who will say anything for attention." Political consultant Terry Sullivan said, "The candidates running against him are clowns. If one of them ever got close, somebody real might run against him next time."