The State endorses Lindsey Graham in South Carolina’s GOP primary for U.S. Senate

There is no debating that Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham has a massive footprint in the U.S. Senate.

As the current chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, Graham, 64, has played a consequential role in increasing the number of conservative judges on the federal bench, pushing for a probe into the FBI’s involvement in investigating President Donald Trump’s alleged links with Russia and much more.

In his role as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Graham has been a substantial force in shaping America’s policy on issues ranging from providing aid to other countries to reviewing our relationship with fellow superpower China.

And Graham, now completing his third term in the Senate, has used his status as our state’s senior senator to protect the interests of South Carolinians — most recently when he supported the coronavirus-related CARES Act relief package (despite some unhelpful rhetoric about the unemployment assistance being provided to those affected during the pandemic).

Graham’s solid record and unmistakable influence make him the obvious choice for The State Editorial Board’s endorsement in Tuesday’s U.S. Senate Republican primary.

During an interview with The State Editorial Board, Graham gave an upbeat assessment of his performance in the Senate since he was last re-elected in 2014 — a period that also saw Graham make a brief run for the GOP’s 2016 presidential nomination.

An effective conservative

“I’ve been a consistent and effective voice for conservatism,” Graham said, noting that he has also been “leading the charge” in pursuing pro-life legislation to limit access to abortion.

And Graham said he has served South Carolina well as an independent voice in the Senate.

“I’ve got an independent streak that I’m proud of,” Graham told The State Editorial Board. “I work across the aisle when it makes sense. I’m just trying to solve problems as well as be an effective voice for conservatism.”

Graham does have reason to boast when it comes to fostering bipartisanship: The senator has formed constructive alliances with Senate Democrats to demand more accountability from tech companies and lower the risk of firearms falling into the hands of potentially dangerous people.

Yet Graham has also given skeptics reason to question his independence, thanks to how frequently he’s been in lockstep with Trump over the past three-plus years.

But much of that criticism is unfair.

The facts are that Trump easily won South Carolina in 2016, maintains strong approval ratings among South Carolinians and is the clear favorite to win our state in November against Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden.

Given those realities, Graham can make a reasonable case that when he’s forcefully backing the president, he’s simply reflecting the will of the state he’s been elected to represent in Washington — regardless of his harsh words for Trump during the 2016 GOP primary season.

Voters should enthusiastically support Graham in Tuesday’s primary.

Graham’s opponents

Graham is being challenged by three candidates: Walterboro lawyer Dwayne “Duke” Buckner, retired Pickens businessman Michael LaPierre and Joe Reynolds, a U.S. Merchant Marine chief engineer based in North Charleston.

Each candidate has focused his campaign on a specific talking point.

Buckner would push for greater restrictions on abortion.

LaPierre would strenuously oppose efforts to expand controls on gun ownership.

Reynolds vows to only serve one six-year term if elected.

Yet it’s clear that Buckner, LaPierre and Reynolds are all running for one shared reason: They believe Graham is an out-of-touch Washington insider who isn’t conservative enough.

While Buckner, LaPierre and Reynolds are thoughtful candidates, Graham’s experience and span of influence in the Senate make him the clear choice for The State’s endorsement.

This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 7:17 AM.