The 2014 United States Senate election in South Carolina took place on November 4, 2014, concurrently with a special election for South Carolina's other Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Republican Lindsey Graham won reelection to a third term. He faced Democratic state senator Brad Hutto and Independent Thomas Ravenel in the general election. He defeated both of them by a 15-point margin.
As of 2022, this is the last time that Barnwell County, Darlington County, and Calhoun County voted Democratic in a Senate election.
Republican primary Of all the Republican senators up for re-election in the 2014 cycle, Graham was considered one of the most vulnerable to a primary challenge, largely due to his low approval ratings and reputation for working with and compromising with Democrats. He expected a primary challenge from conservative activists, including the Tea Party movement, and Chris Chocola, president of the Club for Growth, indicated that his organization would support a primary challenge if an acceptable standard-bearer emerged.
However, a serious challenger to Graham failed to emerge and he was widely viewed as likely to win, which has been ascribed to his "deft maneuvering" and "aggressive" response to the challenge. He befriended potential opponents from the state's congressional delegation and helped them with fundraising and securing their preferred committee assignments; he assembled a "daunting multimillion-dollar political operation" dubbed the "Graham machine" that built six regional offices across the state and enlisted the support of thousands of paid staffers and volunteers, including over 5,000 precinct captains; he assembled a "staggering" campaign warchest and "blanketed" the state with positive ads; he focused on constituent services and local issues; and he refused to "pander" to the Tea Party supporters, instead confronting them head-on, arguing that the Republican party needs to be more inclusive.
Candidates Declared Det Bowers, pastor and businessman Lee Bright, state senator Richard Cash, businessman and candidate for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district in 2010 Bill Connor, attorney, lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2010 Benjamin Dunn, attorney Lindsey Graham, incumbent U.S. senator Nancy Mace, businesswoman and author
Withdrew Dave Feliciano, police officer
Declined Bruce Carroll, co-founder of GOProud and blogger at gay conservative site GayPatriot Tom Davis, state senator Trey Gowdy, U.S. representative Mick Mulvaney, U.S. representative Thomas Ravenel, former South Carolina state treasurer (running as an independent) Mark Sanford, U.S. representative and former governor of South Carolina Joe Wilson, U.S. representative
Endorsements
Debate + 2014 U.S. Senate election in South Carolina Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Det Bowers Lee Bright Richard Cash Bill Connor Benjamin Dunn Lindsey Graham Nancy Mace1 Jun. 7, 2014 ETVThe Beaufort GazetteThe Greenville NewsThe HeraldThe Island PacketThe ItemThe StateThe Sun News Charles BierbauerC-SPAN
Polling Poll source LindseyGraham DetBowers LeeBright RichardCash BillConnor BenjaminDunn NancyMace UndecidedLandmark/Rosetta Stone August 25, 2013 500 ± 4.5% 42.4% — 12.6% 6.7% — — 10% 28.3%Harper PollingHarper Polling October 27–28, 2013 379 ± 5.03% 51% — 15% 4% 4% — 4% 22%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing November 30 – December 2, 2013 601 ± 4% 54% — 10% 5% 2% — 6% 23%North Star^North Star^ January 20–26, 2014 600 ± 4% 53% — 11% 3% 3% — 8% 23%Wenzel Strategies*Wenzel Strategies* February 3–4, 2014 623 ± 3.9% 45.9% — 17.4% 4.9% 4.2% — 5.1% 22.5%Winthrop UniversityWinthrop University February 16–23, 2014 901 ± 3.2% 45% — 8.5% 2.9% 3.5% — 3.7% 36.5%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing March 6–7, 2014 735 ± 4% 60% — 10% 4% 2% — 7% 17%TargetPointTargetPoint March 16–22, 2014 600 ± 2.8% 56% 4% 6% 7% 1% 1% 5% 20%Clemson UniversityClemson University May 22–29, 2014 400 ± 6% 49% 1% 9% 3% 1% 0% 2% 35%
^ Internal poll for Lindsey Graham campaign * Internal poll for Lee Bright campaign
Poll source LindseyGraham TomDavis UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling December 7–9, 2012 506 ± 4.4% 67% 17% 16%
Poll source LindseyGraham JimDeMint UndecidedGravis Marketing November 30 – December 2, 2013 601 ± 4% 36% 47% 17%Gravis Marketing March 6–7, 2014 735 ± 4% 44% 42% 14%
Poll source LindseyGraham TreyGowdy UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 7–9, 2012 506 ± 4.4% 57% 29% 14%
Poll source LindseyGraham MickMulvaney UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 7–9, 2012 506 ± 4.4% 64% 20% 17%
Poll source LindseyGraham MarkSanford UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2011 559 ± 4.1% 52% 34% 14%Public Policy Polling December 7–9, 2012 506 ± 4.4% 64% 26% 10%
Poll source LindseyGraham TimScott UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 7–9, 2012 506 ± 4.4% 54% 32% 14%
Poll source LindseyGraham JoeWilson UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2011 559 ± 4.1% 41% 43% 16%
Poll source LindseyGraham conservative UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2011 559 ± 4.1% 37% 52% 11%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 22–23, 2011 638 ± 3.9% 32% 57% 11%Public Policy Polling December 7–9, 2012 506 ± 4.4% 51% 40% 9%Gravis Marketing November 30 – December 2, 2013 601 ± 4% 37% 39% 24%Gravis Marketing March 6–7, 2014 735 ± 4% 43% 32% 25%
Poll source LindseyGraham LeeBright UndecidedLandmark/Rosetta Stone August 25, 2013 500 ± 4.5% 49.4% 23.7% 26.9%North Star^ January 20–26, 2014 600 ± 4% 57% 27% 16%
Poll source LindseyGraham RichardCash UndecidedLandmark/Rosetta Stone August 25, 2013 500 ± 4.5% 49.3% 20.5% 30.2%North Star^ January 20–26, 2014 600 ± 4% 58% 26% 16%
Poll source LindseyGraham BillConnor UndecidedNorth Star^ January 20–26, 2014 600 ± 4% 59% 25% 16%
Poll source LindseyGraham NancyMace UndecidedLandmark/Rosetta Stone August 25, 2013 500 ± 4.5% 48.2% 23.2% 28.6%North Star^ January 20–26, 2014 600 ± 4% 59% 26% 15%
^ Internal poll for Lindsey Graham campaign
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Declared Brad Hutto, state senator Jay Stamper, entrepreneur
Declined Jim Hodges, former governor of South Carolina
Endorsements
Polling Poll source BradHutto JayStamper UndecidedClemson UniversityClemson University May 26 – June 2, 2014 400 ± 6% 8% 3% 89%
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Declared Victor Kocher, nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2002
Independent In March 2014, with only controversial businessman and prankster Jay Stamper running for the Democrats, Dick Harpootlian, former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, had stated that business leaders were working on an effort to recruit a potential independent candidate to run in case Graham was defeated in the primary. Such a "contingency" plan was rendered moot by the entry of Democratic state senator Brad Hutto into the race.
Former Republican state treasurer Thomas Ravenel had confirmed that was considering running for the Senate as an independent and was likely to do so if Lindsey Graham won the Republican primary. In April 2014, with Graham polling strongly in the primary, Ravenel announced he would run. He officially announced his candidacy on July 4.
Candidates Declared Thomas Ravenel, former Republican state treasurer
General election Debates Graham initially declined to debate his opponents. A spokesman said that his campaign was "in discussions with other groups, as well as looking at the schedule." Hutto said that Graham is "terrified at the thought of defending his own record in a public debate" and Ravenel said Graham's decision was "highly arrogant and disrespectful." Graham claimed he refused to debate because of the presence of independent candidate Thomas Ravenel, a convicted felon. He ultimately agreed to debate Hutto alone on October 27. Complete video of debate, October 27, 2014
Fundraising The following are Federal Election Commission disclosures for the pre-primary reporting period. Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements .... Cash on hand Debt (R) $7,014,854 $9,063,768 $0 $276,312 (D) $399,770 $342,366 $132,401 $75,000
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014
Polling Poll source LindseyGraham (R) BradHutto (D) ThomasRavenel (I) Other UndecidedRasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 9–10, 2014 750 ± 4% 49% 30% — 10% 11%Voter Survey ServiceVoter Survey Service July 7–13, 2014 1,000 ± 4% 46% 33% — 9% 12%Voter Survey Service July 16–20, 2014 650 ± 4% 45% 33% 10% 4%Victor Kocher (L) 8% 46% 33% — 9% 12%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 1,183 ± 5.4% 48% 36% — 7% 10%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18 – September 2, 2014 833 ± 5% 42% 29% 8% 2% 19%Winthrop UniversityWinthrop University September 21–28, 2014 1,082 ± 3% 46.3% 28% 8% 3.5%Victor Kocher (L) 2.6%, Other 0.9% 14.3%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20 – October 1, 2014 2,663 ± 2% 44% 27% 8% 1% 20%CBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 1,566 ± 4% 43% 28% 8% 2% 19%
Poll source LindseyGraham (R) JayStamper (D) UndecidedHarper Polling October 27–28, 2013 676 ± 3.77% 47% 30% 23%
Poll source NancyMace (R) JayStamper (D) UndecidedHarper Polling October 27–28, 2013 676 ± 3.77% 40% 33% 27%
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Barnwell (largest town: Barnwell) Calhoun (largest town: St. Matthews) Darlington (largest city: Hartsville) Dillon (largest city: Dillon)
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Chester (largest town: Chester) McCormick (largest town: McCormick)
See also 2014 United States Senate special election in South Carolina 2014 South Carolina gubernatorial election 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina 2014 United States Senate elections 2014 United States elections
References
External links U.S. Senate elections in South_Carolina, 2014 at Ballotpedia Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets South Carolina U.S. Senate debate excerpts, OnTheIssues.org Official campaign websites Det Bowers for U.S. Senate Lee Bright for U.S. Senate Richard Cash for U.S. Senate Bill Connor for U.S. Senate Benjamin Dunn for U.S. Senate Lindsey Graham for U.S. Senate Brad Hutto for U.S. Senate Victor Kocher for U.S. Senate Nancy Mace for U.S. Senate Jay Stamper for U.S. Senate