Former member of Paine College leadership announces 2026 bid for Graham’s Senate seat

GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) – A small business owner is the latest to throw his hat in the ring for next year’s race for South Carolina’s U.S. Senate currently held by Lindsey Graham.

Democrat Brandon Brown, a Greenville native, announced his campaign Wednesday.

Brown served as the former Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Paine College.

Brown said his campaign will center on faith, family, and “restoring opportunity for working and middle-class families across South Carolina.”

“I’m running for the U.S. Senate because I believe our communities deserve more – and Lindsey Graham has forgotten who he represents,” said Brown in his announcement. “We need to protect Medicaid, our rural hospitals and farmers from the destructive policies Lindsey Graham champions in Washington. South Carolina deserves leadership that reflects our values and fights for our future.”

He added, “I am running for Senate to be a voice for the voiceless. We’re going to bring decency and common sense back to Washington.”

Brown unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2004 and 2018 in South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District, losing to Bob Inglis and current U.S. Representative William Timmons respectively.

Five people have now joined the field challenging Graham, who announced his own reelection campaign in February, for the 2026 election.

Other candidates include Democrats Lee Johnson and Annie Andrews along with Republicans Mark Lynch and André Bauer.