United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2026

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← 2022
U.S. Senate, South Carolina
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: Pending
Primary: Pending General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in South Carolina
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
U.S. Senate, South Carolina U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th South Carolina elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 Alabama U.S. Senate raceAlaska U.S. Senate raceArkansas U.S. Senate raceColorado U.S. Senate raceDelaware U.S. Senate raceGeorgia U.S. Senate raceIdaho U.S. Senate raceIllinois U.S. Senate raceIowa U.S. Senate raceKansas U.S. Senate raceKentucky U.S. Senate raceLouisiana U.S. Senate raceMaine U.S. Senate raceMassachusetts U.S. Senate raceMichigan U.S. Senate raceMinnesota U.S. Senate raceMississippi U.S. Senate raceMontana U.S. Senate raceNebraska U.S. Senate raceNew Hampshire U.S. Senate raceNew Jersey U.S. Senate raceNew Mexico U.S. Senate raceNorth Carolina U.S. Senate raceOklahoma U.S. Senate raceOregon U.S. Senate raceRhode Island U.S. Senate raceSouth Carolina U.S. Senate raceSouth Dakota U.S. Senate raceTennessee U.S. Senate raceTexas U.S. Senate raceVirginia U.S. Senate raceWest Virginia U.S. Senate raceWyoming U.S. Senate raceSubmit

Voters in South Carolina will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 3, 2026. The election will fill the Class II Senate seat held by Lindsey Graham (R), who first took office in 2003. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

• Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
• Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. Senate South Carolina

The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. Senate South Carolina on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Lindsey Graham (R)
		Annie Andrews (D)
		Brandon Brown (D)
		Catherine Fleming Bruce (D)
		Kyle Freeman (D)
	Submit photo	Christopher Giracello (D)
	Submit photo	Lee Johnson (D)
	Submit photo	Paul Dans (R)
		Mark Lynch (R)
		Kasie Whitener (L)
	Submit photo	Jack Ellison (Independent)
	Submit photo	Cindy Glaser (Independent)
	Submit photo	Paul Sedletsky (Independent)
	Submit photo	Reece Wright-McDonald (Independent)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Andre Bauer (R)

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Kyle Freeman

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Kyle Freeman (born September 13, 1989) is a logistics specialist and political candidate running for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina in 2026. Born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Freeman comes from a proud military family. His grandfather, Dewitt Freeman, was a Rear Admiral in the Navy, his mother a Lieutenant Commander, and his father a Master Chief. Before he had aspirations as a public servant, Freeman pursued his education at La Fémis Film School in Paris, France, before moving to South Carolina with his family following the housing market collapse in the late 2000s. He later attended Midlands Technical University and built a career in logistics, where he has worked for over 13 years, specializing in problem-solving and innovative solutions. A former essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic, Freeman is running on a platform of honesty, integrity, and accountability. He aims to bring working-class values to Washington, fighting for fair wages, affordable healthcare, and corporate accountability."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Restoring Honesty and Integrity to our Politics

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Improving Education

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Supporting Workers

Lee Johnson

Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Lee Johnson wasn’t born into politics. He was born in a construction family, operating heavy machinery before he could drive. He was taught to be honest, accountable, and to look out for his community. These lessons shaped his lifelong commitment to hard work and service to others. After earning engineering degrees from Purdue, Georgia Tech and an MBA from Dartmouth, Lee has spent his life building things from the ground up. From fixing infrastructure, to working on major water and energy projects, to leading major companies, Lee has lived out the lessons of service and hard work he was taught at a young age. Lee is running for US Senate because he believes South Carolinians deserve leaders who prioritize respect, honesty, accountability, transparency, and unity. Committed to term limits, Lee pledges to serve no more than two terms, ensuring fresh and accountable leadership in Washington. A proud resident of Greenville, Lee lives with his wife Shauna and their six year old daughter Max. An avid pilot and musician in his free time, Lee remains driven by a deep commitment to service."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid Lower prescription drug costs Expand access to healthcare

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Build an economy that works for ALL South Carolinians

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Stop politicians from profiting off of public service Serve two terms max

Kasie Whitener

Party: Libertarian Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Dr. Kasie Whitener is a writer, business owner, radio host, and educator at the University of South Carolina. She is the co-host for “Mornings with Kasie and Kev” on 100.7 The Point. Kasie earned her PhD in Organization and Management in 2014 and joined the Darla Moore School of Business at USC in 2017. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor teaching entrepreneurship and strategic management and a director of the Faber Entrepreneurship Center. She’s also the voice of “Moore Impact,” the Darla Moore School of Business’s live radio show and podcast. In addition to her full course load at the Moore School, Kasie hosts Write On SC, a weekly radio show, and podcast teaching the craft and business of writing. She has bachelor's and master's degrees in English from Clemson and Winthrop respectively, and authored two novels, After December (2019) and Before Pittsburgh (2021). She was a two-term President of the South Carolina Writers Association, and still serves on the Board. She was the Richland County Chairperson for the South Carolina Libertarian Party (SCLP) for two terms and currently Chair of the State Committee for the SCLP. Kasie is a Florence native who grew up in Herndon, Virginia, but returned to South Carolina when she enrolled at Clemson University in 1995. She currently lives in Blythewood with her husband, Charlie, and their teenaged daughter."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Dignity. I promise to be the hardest vote to get in the Senate and the person most likely to work with anyone, regardless of party, to do the right thing for our nation. South Carolina can be the first state to reject the corruption eroding our democracy by electing an independent candidate not beholden to major party machinery. Transparent, accessible representation of South Carolina. Not bipartisan politics, warmongering, and divisiveness.

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Honesty. I promise to take an active role in the oversight function of the Senate. Politics has become theater: Washington is a stage and our representatives are all acting. We need serious people willing to do the serious work of reforming our systems and institutions to reduce waste, prevent fraud, and prosecute abuse. The job of the Senate is oversight, I expect to play an active role in holding organizations accountable.

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Integrity. I promise to contain spending and demand fiscal responsibility including a balanced budget delivered on time. Our national debt is a security threat, an unsustainable burden, and totally unnecessary. Our government should be able to operate within its means. I am committed to a reduction in federal spending of 5% per department per year until we get spending under control. We must find a way out of debt. I am eager to know your perspective and expectations and will be a transparent, accessible representative for you in the Senate.

Voting information

See also: Voting in South Carolina

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Kyle Freeman (D)

Restoring Honesty and Integrity to our Politics

Improving Education

Supporting Workers

Lee Johnson (D)

Protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

Lower prescription drug costs Expand access to healthcare

Build an economy that works for ALL South Carolinians

Stop politicians from profiting off of public service

Serve two terms max

Kasie Whitener (L)

Dignity. I promise to be the hardest vote to get in the Senate and the person most likely to work with anyone, regardless of party, to do the right thing for our nation. South Carolina can be the first state to reject the corruption eroding our democracy by electing an independent candidate not beholden to major party machinery. Transparent, accessible representation of South Carolina. Not bipartisan politics, warmongering, and divisiveness.

Honesty. I promise to take an active role in the oversight function of the Senate. Politics has become theater: Washington is a stage and our representatives are all acting. We need serious people willing to do the serious work of reforming our systems and institutions to reduce waste, prevent fraud, and prosecute abuse. The job of the Senate is oversight, I expect to play an active role in holding organizations accountable.

Integrity. I promise to contain spending and demand fiscal responsibility including a balanced budget delivered on time. Our national debt is a security threat, an unsustainable burden, and totally unnecessary. Our government should be able to operate within its means. I am committed to a reduction in federal spending of 5% per department per year until we get spending under control. We must find a way out of debt. I am eager to know your perspective and expectations and will be a transparent, accessible representative for you in the Senate.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Kyle Freeman (D)

Healthcare Reform

Lee Johnson (D)

Economic Policy, Foreign Policy

Kasie Whitener (L)

Fiscal responsibility and government oversight are my two main reasons for running for office. Our current political landscape is full of actors, performers, who play at politics but don't actually do the work. We need serious people who will roll up their sleeves and do the hard work of governing, not party puppets who spend us into bankruptcy while enriching themselves.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Kasie Whitener (L)

I always looked up to my grandparents, Bill and Myrtle Johnson. There were regular people who served their community with love and joy. They both worked full time and they had five children, but they also volunteered regularly at their church. Nana was in a garden club, drove for Meals on Wheels, and worked with Lighthouse Ministries providing bill-pay help to those in need. Papa was in the Shrine Club and helped raise money for kids who needed medical attention. Most evenings on the way home from work, Papa stopped at his own parents' farm to do chores and bring fresh eggs and vegetables back to his own family. They taught me that a life lived in service to others is something to be proud of and that work is valuable not only for the value created but also for the experience earned. I try to follow their example and put myself in service whenever possible. I joke with my friends and colleagues that I'm in my "say yes!" era.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Kasie Whitener (L)

I'm a fan of the press conference in The American President when Michael Douglas's character stands up to Richard Dreyfuss by saying America is advanced citizenship and we need serious people to do the work. He says, "whatever your particular problem is, I promise you Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things, and two things only: making you afraid of it, and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections." It is not, however, how we actually govern. I'm in agreement that too much of politics is theater. My philosophy is do the work or get out of the way for those of us who can and are willing. I have been blogging weekly during my campaign in response to the process and the current political climate. Like all philosophies, mine is a learning, growing, evolving experience. I would invite people to come along with me on the journey, subscribe to the blog. Some of my recent political reads include The Worldly Philosophers, The Dictator's Handbook, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, and Griftopia. The West Wing is a favorite TV show. I like the scene in "Dave" when they cut the budget.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Kyle Freeman (D)

Honesty, the willingness to tell the truth in all situations. Integrity, standing by your principles even when it's difficult or inconvenient. Empathy, being able to understand people and meet them where they are and to listen to them and their story. Humility, understanding that people understand their own lives better than yours, and that no one deserves to be talked down to.

Lee Johnson (D)

respect, honesty, accountability, transparency, and unity

Kasie Whitener (L)

Honesty, dignity, and integrity. Tell the truth. Act with civility, in the best interests of our state and our nation. Do what you say you're going to do.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Kyle Freeman (D)

Problem solver, a desire to help people, intelligent, empathetic, good work ethic, and a love and passion for not only the America that I live in, but the America I know we can achieve.

Kasie Whitener (L)

I'm a hard worker, someone who doesn't shy away from challenging problems or situations. I'm very collaborative and solution-oriented. I am direct and honest, I don't waste time with excuses or blame. I have compassion and I lead with love first. It's my commitment to love that I think differentiates me. As many are quick to accuse and excoriate, I seek to understand, and extend trust. I hope to bring that love-first approach to my service to the US Senate.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Kyle Freeman (D)

To enact meaningful change and protections to our laws and constitution with the aim of improving the lives of our fellow Americans.

Lee Johnson (D)

I believe South Carolinians deserve leaders who prioritize respect, honesty, accountability, transparency, and unity. I'm committed to term limits, and pledge to serve no more than two terms, ensuring fresh and accountable leadership in Washington.

Kasie Whitener (L)

Core responsibilities of a Senator are representing your state, approving or rejecting legislation, investigation and oversight of government agencies and officials, and management of the office of the Senator. Senators must be able to collaborate and should be leaders with a vision for our nation's prosperity and security.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Lee Johnson (D)

I want my legacy to be simple: that I showed up—especially when it was hard, when it was inconvenient, and when no one else would. I want folks to say, “He didn’t just run his mouth, he rolled up his sleeves.” That I brought decency back into public service. That I listened. That I made government feel human again.

Kasie Whitener (L)

I hope people who knew me will say I had fun, that I led with love, and that I was joyful. It would also be pretty special to be known as the first woman to be elected Senator from South Carolina. More importantly, if I could break the duopoly's hold on our state, that would be a great legacy.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Kasie Whitener (L)

The first historical event I remember is the Challenger explosion on January 28, 1986. I had a poster of the Challenger crew on my bedroom wall and was really into space exploration at the time. We had been to the Air & Space museum dozens of times and I couldn't wait to see the first civilian, school teacher Christa McAuliffe, go into space. I was nine years old, almost ten, and we were home from school that day. Mom called us up from the basement to watch. After the explosion, we just kind of sat there, dumbfounded, until mom told us to go back downstairs and play.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Kasie Whitener (L)

I was a lifeguard at the pool where I also swam eight practices a week for a year-round team and coached little kids on form and technique. I did that for four years of high school and one year during college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Kasie Whitener (L)

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons is a tremendous historical romance. I credit it with my first book hangover: I loved it so much, nothing else would satisfy for weeks. Then I found the sequel! I would put that moment at one of the happiest of my life. I ran across the street in the snow from my hotel to Barnes and Noble to buy Tatiana and Alexander right before they closed. Avid readers will understand the book hangover, it's a real thing. Hard to explain why I loved The Bronze Horseman so much, but I started it Monday midday and finished it Friday morning. It's 912 pages long.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Kasie Whitener (L)

She-Ra, Princess of Power. From the old cartoon. The new cartoon is okay, but the old one rules.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Kasie Whitener (L)

"Take a Chance on Me" by ABBA was stuck in my head recently. I love a good ABBA jam (it could have just as easily been Dancing Queen). Take a Chance on Me resonates these days as I'm asking the voters of South Carolina to act outside of their usual election patterns. I'm asking them to take a chance on voting for a third party candidate, giving up their seniority-laden incumbent, and reject the corruption of the duopoly. I promise they won't regret it. I'm going to do my very best.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Kasie Whitener (L)

My career has been a patchwork of preparation meeting opportunity. Because I didn't follow a traditional path in corporate, academia, consulting, or entrepreneurship, I have sometimes struggled to earn equitable compensation. Had I remained in one discipline, maybe a steady income would have provided stability. Instead, I took chances and those chances sometimes meant working for significantly less than I was worth. I was prepared to do the work, and took the opportunity, but sometimes the experience I brought to the table was undervalued. I just kept working, proving myself again and again to be a valuable contributor in every role I earned.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Kyle Freeman (D)

Address and correcting the country's disturbing turn towards fascism and white nationalism.

Kasie Whitener (L)

The biggest challenge to our great nation is corruption in our government, steered by the unchecked influence of the Republican and Democrat parties. These two political parties continue to amass wealth and power, and construct the political environment to ensure their own survival and prosperity. Ours is no longer a representative government. The government has been fully sold to corporate interests, lobbies, and cronies. As a nation, we must decide we’ve had enough, and take back control of the mechanisms of government. We cannot succeed without engaged citizens. When we elect more independents and establish a coalition government, our next-biggest challenge will be reducing the deficit and trying to establish financial stability for future generations to come. This will require a combination of raising more funds, and making significant cuts to government spending. It will hurt us all to dig out of the abyss, but the long-term survival of our nation depends on the heroism of bold actors and truth-tellers.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Kyle Freeman (D)

Term limits are needed, but will not alone solve the problems we face with entrenched lifetime politicians. Our country needs term limits, but that's just the beginning.

Lee Johnson (D)

I promise to serve no more than two terms and unlike Lindsey Graham, I will keep my promise.

Kasie Whitener (L)

Term limits have been ruled unconstitutional. Their suggested use is born of a valid, and almost universal concern over the longevity of some incumbents. The state of South Carolina elected Strom Thurmond for eight consecutive terms. Senator Lindsey Graham has been elected four consecutive times, so I, too, am familiar with the frustration. In our state, there is a compulsion to maintain a single Senator and earn seniority in the party and in Congress.

The average length of time Senators spend in office has increased over time, with the trend toward career legislator and away from citizen legislator. This is primarily because of the political machinery of the Republican and Democrat parties. Incumbents and major party candidates have significant advantages in the election cycle, not the least of which is financing. But term limits are not the answer. It is also an almost impossible task, asking sitting legislators to pass a law to end their own careers.

Election reform and campaign finance reform are the answers to the concern of career politicians. One proposal I would support is to limit campaign contributions for representative office to that candidate’s district. Only South Carolinians should fund South Carolina legislators. Another reform I would support is ranked choice voting. Ranked choice voting requires a candidate to achieve 51% of the vote to win and enables the candidates to earn that 51% in second, and third choice votes, ensuring that candidates appeal to a broader spectrum of voters.

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Kyle Freeman (D)

With a current maximum of 100 senators, the number is small enough that every senator can know every other senator quite well, however the margins for a winning vote are narrow enough that it forces compromise. This means senators have to cross the aisle and make deals with opposing party members, and that friction ensures the best results for the American people.

Kasie Whitener (L)

The most unique qualities of the Senate are equal representation for all 50 states and that one third of its members are elected every two years. There is both balance, and a shift, wisely built in by the framers. The Senate’s six-year terms and experienced two-thirds design ensure continuity and stability. Revered for its dignity, order of rules, and decorum, the Senate is intentionally a small organization meant to be a learning, thinking, deliberative body. Senate committees, through investigation, gain insight on the scope and implications of government action. The Senate is tasked with government oversight, acting as the collective voice of the nation to select the best nominees for important posts, and review regulations and activities. Its most important role is holding the government accountable on behalf of the governed.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Kyle Freeman (D)

Experience is helpful, but can lead to complacency and corner cutting, as well as a lack of willingness to tackle problems with new approaches. Previous experience can certainly be helpful, but fresh ideas and perspectives need to be continuously introduced for the system to work well.

Kasie Whitener (L)

Politics is about achieving mutually-beneficial outcomes. It is through relationships, negotiation, and compromise that such achievements are made. I do not believe political skills are learned only through a job in government or politics. While understanding the operations of the legislature is advantageous, a Senator serves six years which is more than enough time to learn the ropes, forge relationships, and be an effective legislator.

What do you think of the filibuster?

Kyle Freeman (D)

The filibuster was a mistake when it was first inadvertently created by Aaron Burr in 1806, and it's long past time this error is corrected and the filibuster is nothing more than an obscure answer in a history trivia game.

Kasie Whitener (L)

I have no problem with the filibuster. I am opposed to omnibus bills which are introduced without enough time for thorough review. This causes votes to be rushed and bills containing pork barrel items that are not relevant to the work of the bill. If the filibuster can buy time to evaluate a bill or stop passage of a destructive bill, then I’m for it. Part of the problem with our legislative process is that large funding bills are shoved through party channels, and individuals who should be representing their states are heavily pressured to act in the best interest of their party, not the state they represent. If the filibuster can provide a space for discussion of harmful legislation, possibly leading to honest votes –not party-whipped votes, then I support it.

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Kyle Freeman (D)

Al Franken, for his willingness to step forward to help people despite not having a background in politics. Bernie Sanders, for his unwavering commitment to his ideals and morals. And John McCain, for his dedication to service in the name of his country, and his bravery in standing up to enemies both foreign and domestic, even when those enemies were in his own party.

Kasie Whitener (L)

I admire Dr. Rand Paul from Kentucky and the work he does on oversight through the Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee. I also like that he continues to be a budget hawk. I am looking forward to joining him as the hardest vote to earn in the Senate.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Kasie Whitener (L)

A panda walks into a bar, orders a burger, finishes his meal, pulls out a gun, shoots the bartender, and walks out. When he's chased into the parking lot, the manager demands, "What have you done?" The panda replies, "I'm a panda. Look it up." Back inside, the dictionary open, the manager reads, "panda: eats shoots and leaves." Moral of the story? Punctuation matters.

How would you evaluate a judicial nominee?

Kyle Freeman (D)

I would ask what they do to check their own biases, and how they can ensure that they, and their fellow judges remain impartial. I would also ask them their feelings on stare decisis and if they agree with the unpopular recent decisions made by the Supreme Court.

Kasie Whitener (L)

Education, experience, understanding of the post, and recognition of the scope of work. It is critical to understand each nominee’s interpretation of the text of the US Constitution. I would question them on their previous case rulings, as well as historical cases and precedents. I believe vetting judicial nominees to be one of the highest honors, and most critical responsibilities, of the US Senate. There should not be any political machinations or automatic approvals.

What kind of relationships would you build with other senators?

Kyle Freeman (D)

An amicable working relationship were disagreements can be understood and compromised can be reached.

Kasie Whitener (L)

I believe the Senate to be a place of professionalism and dignity. One that should be above partisan bickering and the shifting political winds. I will forge strong relationships with my colleagues, regardless of party. I will establish rapport, identify common interests, and respect one another’s commitment to serving our country. Without membership in a major party, I will not have the traditional internal caucuses. Instead, I can work with members of both parties and tackle issues that are important to South Carolina. I am interested in collaboration and team work. I am intolerant of childish antics, performative politics and attention-seeking stunts.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Kyle Freeman (D)

Yes.

Kasie Whitener (L)

Yes, I believe compromise is both necessary and desirable. The trap of zero-sum politics sows division and serves the Republicans and Democrats by enabling them to raise more money through their performances for the media. It’s not governance, it’s theater. We need serious work done by serious people. Turn off the cameras and get to work. Elected officials should stop thinking about donors and start thinking about citizens.

How should the U.S. Senate use its investigative powers?

Kyle Freeman (D)

The best decisions are made with the best information, and the Senate should not be afraid to use it's investigative powers not only to gather the I formation needed for drafting the best legislation, but for hold those accountable, in a public forum, that fail the American people, or do not adhere to the legislation that has been passed.

Kasie Whitener (L)

The Senate’s investigative powers are implied, but not explicitly stated in the Constitution. It is incumbent upon the Senate to exercise oversight through its investigations. For example, the failure of the Department of Homeland Security to fulfill a mandate from its inception that it create a procedure to track entry and exit at our borders. The Senate should investigate why that mandate has not been fulfilled.

Once agency deficiencies are investigated, the Senate committee report should suggest changes to processes and departments that are dysfunctional. Those changes should be audited during the budget review process. The Senate should not waste its investigative powers on theatrical efforts, but should hold institutions, corporations, and organizations accountable.

An example of a good use of the investigative powers is FAA oversight of Boeing, in which the Senate took a government agency and contractor to task over failed systems and products. A bad example of using Senate investigative powers is the inquiry into the National Science Foundation for DEI wording in grant applications. Those grants had already been issued and funded. Better to suggest updates to future applications rather than to claw back money already awarded under a previous administration.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Lee Johnson (D)

SC Rep JA Moore, SC Rep Michael Rivers, Former North Charleston Councilwoman Virginia Jamison

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees to their Cabinet?

Kyle Freeman (D)

I would look for conflicts of interest, experience relevant to the chosen position, as well as their dedication to the American people. Beyond that it greatly depends on the cabinet position.

Kasie Whitener (L)

Education, experience, understanding of the post, recognition of the scope of work expected, and ability to articulate all of those things in a hearing. These appointees are entrusted to direct the activities of federal organizations. Through Senate review, the American people are putting their trust in Cabinet officers. It is absolutely vital that they be chosen objectively, fairly on their merits, and without political bias.

What committees interest you?

Kyle Freeman (D)

The Judiciary Committee. Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Veterans' Affairs. Energy and Natural Resources. Indian Affairs.

Kasie Whitener (L)

The Appropriations committee, Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee, Rules and Administration committee, and Small Business and Entrepreneurship committee are areas where I will best represent South Carolina in pursuit of critical reforms. My education and experience are suited to operational oversight work.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Kyle Freeman (D)

We are in desperate need of better transparency and accountability, and that transparency needs to be in a form that is easy for the average American to access. No red tape or hoops to jump through, but easily accessed, publicly available information about how the government operates and where the money is going.

Lee Johnson (D)

I think we should stop politicians from profiting off of public service.

Kasie Whitener (L)

The biggest crisis of our lifetime is the ever-growing national debt. We, as voters, have failed to hold our elected officials accountable for their reckless spending. Spending bills should be considered as individual units of legislation, not omnibus pork barrel-rich shove-throughs. Congress should take its budget oversight role seriously and bring us back to balance, reduce spending to fight the debt, and answer for the pork and pet projects they use as bargaining chips. Agencies should expect to reduce their spending, everyone is responsible for the bloat and gluttony that has ruled Washington for too long.

You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

• Annie Andrews
• Brandon Brown
• Catherine Fleming Bruce
• Mark Lynch

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Lindsey Graham	Republican Party	$17,380,215	$14,254,882	$15,616,791	As of June 30, 2025
Annie Andrews	Democratic Party	$1,249,437	$577,561	$671,876	As of June 30, 2025
Brandon Brown	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Catherine Fleming Bruce	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$5,030	As of September 30, 2025
Kyle Freeman	Democratic Party	$34,491	$33,837	$654	As of June 30, 2025
Christopher Giracello	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Lee Johnson	Democratic Party	$567,119	$117,225	$449,895	As of June 30, 2025
Paul Dans	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Mark Lynch	Republican Party	$5,280,952	$195,110	$5,085,841	As of June 30, 2025
Thomas Murphy	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Kasie Whitener	Libertarian Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Jack Ellison	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Cindy Glaser	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Paul Sedletsky	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Reece Wright-McDonald	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in South Carolina, 2026
Race tracker	Race ratings
	9/9/2025	9/2/2025	8/26/2025	8/19/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Pending	Pending	Pending	Pending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

This section will contain information on ballot access related to this state's elections when it is available.

Election history

The section below details election results for this state's U.S. Senate elections dating back to 2016.

2022

See also: United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. Senate South Carolina

Incumbent Tim Scott defeated Krystle Matthews and Jesse Harper in the general election for U.S. Senate South Carolina on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tim Scott (R)	62.9	1,066,274
		Krystle Matthews (D)	37.0	627,616
	Submit photo	Jesse Harper (Independent American Party) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	1,812

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,695,702
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Larry Adams Jr. (Independent)

Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for U.S. Senate South Carolina

Krystle Matthews defeated Catherine Fleming Bruce in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. Senate South Carolina on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Krystle Matthews	55.8	25,300
		Catherine Fleming Bruce	44.2	20,064

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 45,364
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate South Carolina

Catherine Fleming Bruce and Krystle Matthews advanced to a runoff. They defeated Angela Geter in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate South Carolina on June 14, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Catherine Fleming Bruce	34.7	59,777
✔		Krystle Matthews	33.2	57,278
		Angela Geter	32.1	55,281

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 172,336
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Tim Scott advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. Senate South Carolina.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Timothy Swain (R)
• Casey O'Grady (R)

2020

General election

General election for U.S. Senate South Carolina

Incumbent Lindsey Graham defeated Jaime Harrison and Bill Bledsoe (Unofficially withdrew) in the general election for U.S. Senate South Carolina on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lindsey Graham (R)	54.4	1,369,137
		Jaime Harrison (D)	44.2	1,110,828
		Bill Bledsoe (Constitution Party) (Unofficially withdrew)	1.3	32,845
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	2,294

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,515,104
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Keenan Dunham (L)
• David Weikle (L)

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jaime Harrison advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate South Carolina.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Justin Wooton (D)
• Gloria Bromell Tinubu (D)
• Matthew Knights (D)
• William Stone (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate South Carolina

Incumbent Lindsey Graham defeated Michael LaPierre, Joe Reynolds, and Duke Buckner in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate South Carolina on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lindsey Graham	67.7	317,512
		Michael LaPierre	17.0	79,932
		Joe Reynolds	9.2	43,029
		Duke Buckner	6.1	28,570

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 469,043
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Johnny Garcia (R)
• Peggy Kandies (R)
• Carey Wilson (R)
• Mark Sloan (R)

Constitution convention

Constitution convention for U.S. Senate South Carolina

Bill Bledsoe advanced from the Constitution convention for U.S. Senate South Carolina on January 11, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Bill Bledsoe (Constitution Party)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

U.S. Senate, South Carolina General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tim Scott Incumbent	60.6%	1,241,609
	Democratic	Thomas Dixon	36.9%	757,022
	Libertarian	Bill Bledsoe	1.8%	37,482
	American	Rebel Scarborough	0.6%	11,923
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	1,857
Total Votes				2,049,893
Source: South Carolina Secretary of State

Election analysis

This section will contain facts and figures related to this state's elections when those are available.

See also

South Carolina	2026 primaries	2026 U.S. Congress elections
South Carolina congressional delegation Voting in South Carolina South Carolina elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

South Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Lindsey Graham (R)

Tim Scott (R)

Representatives

District 1

Nancy Mace (R)

District 2

Joe Wilson (R)

District 3

Sheri Biggs (R)

District 4

William Timmons (R)

District 5

Ralph Norman (R)

District 6

James Clyburn (D)

District 7

Russell Fry (R)

Republican Party (8)

Democratic Party (1)

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