Dans worked in the White House during President Donald Trump’s first term. His bid may present a unique challenge for Graham, who — though he has already secured Trump’s endorsement — has found himself at odds with the president on several occasions. In 2024, after Graham urged Trump to focus more on policy during his reelection campaign, Trump responded he doesn’t “care what he says.”

“Lindsey wouldn’t be elected if I didn’t endorse him,” Trump said.

One of the leading voices on Project 2025, Dans told the AP he expects to have the support of the project’s allies as well as some of Trump’s supporters.

Graham is seeking his fifth term as Republicans attempt to hold onto their 53-47 majority in the Senate during the 2026 midterms. Dans said it’s “time to show him the door.”

Chris LaCivita, senior adviser to Graham’s campaign, said in a statement Dans has “parachuted himself” into South Carolina after being “unceremoniously dumped in 2024 while trying to torpedo Donald Trump’s historic campaign.”

“Like everything Paul Dans starts, this too will end prematurely,” said LaCivita.

Dans will officially announce his campaign at a Charleston event Wednesday.

Project 2025, the 900-page set of conservative policy proposals, dominated conversations during the 2024 presidential election. Though Trump insisted the plan — created by the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation — was unrelated to his campaign, many of its architects, including Dans, have been involved with the Trump administration at some point or another.