Joe Walsh mulls Senate bid against Lindsey Graham

Graham, for his part, has been a supporter of Trump since 2016, but is less-than-popular with the MAGA movement due to his neoconservative advocacy for foreign conflicts.

By Ben Whedon

Published: June 11, 2025 12:04pm

Former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh is reportedly considering a run for Senate in South Carolina as a Democrat, he confirmed.

Once a Republican, Walsh jumped into the Never-Trump camp and mounted a barely-noticed primary challenge to President Donald Trump in 2020. He joined the Democrats last week.

He continues to identify as a "conservative" and maintains many of his Tea Party-era stances. Walsh specifically pointed to his loathing of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., as motivating his consideration.

"I am seriously considering moving to South Carolina and challenging Lindsey Graham next year, because he’s a piece of shit," he told Politico. “He’s everything that is wrong about our politics, and he’s the worst, most pathetic Trump enabler.”

Graham, for his part, has been a supporter of Trump since 2016, but is less-than-popular with the MAGA movement due to his neoconservative advocacy for foreign conflicts.

He last won reelection in 2020.