South Carolina Republicans head to the polls Tuesday as new allegations swirl around Sen. Lindsey Graham's challenger, Mark Lynch.
Incumbent Graham enters the final days of the race with the endorsement of President Donald Trump and much of the state's Republican establishment, while Lynch faces scrutiny over his finances, criminal history, and campaign controversies.
The closely watched U.S. Senate primary has taken on national significance as Republicans seek to protect their Senate majority heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
According to an exclusive report this week by the Washington Reporter, Lynch's latest Senate financial disclosures indicate he has not yet paid between $50,000 and $100,000 in federal taxes for the 2025 tax year.
The report also alleges that Lynch has not disclosed bank accounts or investments that could explain the source of approximately $5 million he has personally contributed to his campaign.
The Washington Reporter said it had filed an ethics complaint urging the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate Lynch's financial disclosures and the source of his campaign funding.
The financial allegations are the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Lynch's candidacy.
Lynch has acknowledged a 1984 felony cocaine trafficking conviction, which he has described as part of a personal story of addiction, rehabilitation, and redemption.
Lynch has claimed he later received a presidential pardon.
However, recent reports have raised questions about that claim.
According to the Washington Reporter, searches of publicly available Justice Department pardon records have not uncovered documentation of a presidential pardon for Lynch. Reports also state that Lynch recently acknowledged he and his attorney have been unable to locate such records.
Additional scrutiny has focused on a 1985 South Carolina case involving allegations that Lynch left the scene of an accident involving injuries.
Lynch has denied that the incident was a hit-and-run. State of the Day reported that court records indicate the original indictment was resolved after he "pled to other charges."
Lynch has also drawn criticism for past comments supporting the legalization of cocaine, which he later claimed were misrepresented, and for campaign staffing decisions that critics say reflected poor judgment.
Graham and his allies have sought to make Lynch's record a central issue in the campaign. The senator recently released an advertisement highlighting Lynch's inability to answer basic constitutional questions during a recorded interview.
Trump has been outspoken in his support for Graham.
The president endorsed the South Carolina senator and sharply criticized Lynch, calling him a "LUNATIC" and warning that he "would be a DISASTER for the Republican Party."
Over the weekend, former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X her endorsement of Lynch.
"I am done watching Lindsey Graham sell out America," Greene wrote.
Abby Zilch, a spokesperson for Graham, argued that the race represents a choice between pro-Trump Republicans and what she characterized as anti-Trump factions within the party.
"Senator Graham believes that South Carolina is Trump country, not MTG/Massie country," Zilch said.
"Senator Graham is proud to have the support of President Trump and Senator Tim Scott, along with the support of legions of pro-Trump Republicans."
Polls show Graham with a sizable lead over Lynch, but analysts note that the senator needs to win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.