Former South Carolina Lt. Gov. Bauer Suspends 2026 Senate Campaign Challenging Graham

Former South Carolina Lieutenant Governor André Bauer has suspended his GOP primary campaign challenging incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham for the 2026 U.S. Senate race, citing a political climate that rewards deception over honesty and division over unity. Bauer, a longtime Trump supporter who launched his bid just over a month ago, framed his campaign as a fight for true conservative values but decided to exit after deep reflection and called for unity among Republicans. His departure leaves Paul Dans, architect of the far-right Project 2025, and businessman Mark Lynch as Graham's remaining primary challengers. President Donald Trump has endorsed Graham, who has faced multiple primary challenges but maintains strong backing from state Republican leaders. Bauer's suspension was met with calls from Dans for the other challengers to consolidate efforts against Graham, emphasizing a need to unite behind shared conservative principles. The race remains a focal point of GOP intra-party competition in South Carolina ahead of the June primary.