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2014 United States Senate election in South Carolina

none

Field	Value
election_name	2014 United States Senate election in South Carolina
country	South Carolina
type	presidential
ongoing	no
previous_election	2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina
previous_year	2008
next_election	2020 United States Senate election in South Carolina
next_year	2020
election_date	November 4, 2014
image_size	150x150px
image1	File:U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, Official Photo, 113th Congress (cropped).jpg
nominee1	Lindsey Graham
party1	Republican Party (United States)
popular_vote1	672,942
percentage1	54.27%
image2	3x4.svg
nominee2	Brad Hutto
party2	Democratic Party (United States)
popular_vote2	480,933
percentage2	38.78%
map_image	2014 United States Senate election in South Carolina results map by county.svg
map_size	230px
map_caption	County results
title	U.S. Senator
before_election	Lindsey Graham
before_party	Republican Party (United States)
after_election	Lindsey Graham
after_party	Republican Party (United States)

Graham:
Hutto:
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,

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

Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey
Joe Manchin, U.S. senator from West Virginia (Democratic)

Newspapers

The State

Individuals

Curtis Bostic, former Charleston County councilman and candidate for SC-01 in 2013
Erick Erickson, editor-in-chief of RedState

Organizations

Sumter TEAvangical Patriots

Individuals

Greg Brannon, physician and 2014 North Carolina U.S Senate candidate
Bill Chumley, state representative
Thomas Massie, U.S. representative from Kentucky
William Rentiers, chairman of the Lexington County Republican Party
Steve Stockman, U.S. representative from Texas
Kevin Thomas, chairman of the Fairfield County Republican Party
Lewis Vaughn, former state senator

Organizations

Americans for Legal Immigration
Gun Owners of America
Gun Rights Across America
Kershaw County Patriots
Laurens County Tea Party
National Association for Gun Rights
Republican Liberty Caucus
Voice of the Unborn
Paul E. Vallely, retired US Army major general and senior military analyst for Fox News
National Association for Gun Rights
Tea Party Leadership Fund
Tim Scott, U.S. senator from South Carolina

Debate

No.	Date	Moderator	Republican	Republican	Republican	Republican
Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn	Republican Party (US)}}"	Republican Party (US)}}"	Republican Party (US)}}"	Republican Party (US)}}"	Republican Party (US)}}"	Republican Party (US)}}"	Republican Party (US)}}"	Det Bowers	Lee Bright	Richard Cash	Bill Connor	Benjamin Dunn	Lindsey Graham	Nancy Mace	1
Jun. 7, 2014	ETV
The Beaufort Gazette
The Greenville News
The Herald
The Island Packet
The Item
The State
The Sun News	Charles Bierbauer

Polling

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Det
Bowers	Lee
Bright	Richard
Cash	Bill
Connor	Benjamin
Dunn	Nancy
Mace	Undecided
Landmark/Rosetta Stone	August 25, 2013	500	± 4.5%	42.4%	—	12.6%	6.7%	—	—	10%		28.3%
Harper Polling	October 27–28, 2013	379	± 5.03%	51%	—	15%	4%	4%	—	4%	22%
Gravis Marketing	November 30 – December 2, 2013	601	± 4%	54%	—	10%	5%	2%	—	6%	23%
North Star^	January 20–26, 2014	600	± 4%	53%	—	11%	3%	3%	—	8%	23%
Wenzel Strategies*	February 3–4, 2014	623	± 3.9%	45.9%	—	17.4%	4.9%	4.2%	—	5.1%		22.5%
Winthrop University	February 16–23, 2014	901	± 3.2%	45%	—	8.5%	2.9%	3.5%	—	3.7%		36.5%
Gravis Marketing	March 6–7, 2014	735	± 4%	60%	—	10%	4%	2%	—	7%	17%
TargetPoint	March 16–22, 2014	600	± 2.8%	56%	4%	6%	7%	1%	1%	5%	20%
Clemson 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	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Tom
Davis	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	December 7–9, 2012	506	± 4.4%	67%	17%	16%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Jim
DeMint	Undecided
Gravis Marketing	November 30 – December 2, 2013	601	± 4%	36%		47%	17%
Gravis Marketing	March 6–7, 2014	735	± 4%		44%	42%	14%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Trey
Gowdy	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	December 7–9, 2012	506	± 4.4%	57%	29%	14%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Mick
Mulvaney	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	December 7–9, 2012	506	± 4.4%	64%	20%	17%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Mark
Sanford	Undecided
Public 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	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Tim
Scott	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	December 7–9, 2012	506	± 4.4%	54%	32%	14%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Joe
Wilson	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	January 28–30, 2011	559	± 4.1%	41%	43%	16%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Someone more
conservative	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	January 28–30, 2011	559	± 4.1%	37%		52%	11%
Public 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	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Lee
Bright	Undecided
Landmark/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	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Richard
Cash	Undecided
Landmark/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	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Bill
Connor	Undecided
North Star^	January 20–26, 2014	600	± 4%	59%	25%	16%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham	Nancy
Mace	Undecided
Landmark/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

Individuals

Jim Clyburn, U.S. representative for (SC-06)
Jaime Harrison, chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party

Organizations

AFL-CIO, national trade union center
National Education Association, national labor union

Newspapers

The Greenville News
The State

Polling

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Brad
Hutto	Jay
Stamper	Undecided
Clemson 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	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham (R)	Brad
Hutto (D)	Thomas
Ravenel (I)	Other	Undecided
Rasmussen Reports	July 9–10, 2014	750	± 4%		49%	30%	—	10%	11%
Voter 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%	8%
	46%	33%	—	9%	12%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	July 5–24, 2014	1,183	± 5.4%		48%	36%	—	7%	10%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	August 18 – September 2, 2014	833	± 5%		42%	29%	8%	2%	19%
Winthrop University	September 21–28, 2014	1,082	± 3%		46.3%	28%	8%	3.5%	14.3%
CBS 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	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Lindsey
Graham (R)	Jay
Stamper (D)	Undecided
Harper Polling	October 27–28, 2013	676	± 3.77%	47%	30%	23%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Nancy
Mace (R)	Jay
Stamper (D)	Undecided
Harper 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)

References

Tom Kludt. (April 8, 2014). "Lindsey Graham Faces Big - But Weak - Field of Challengers". NBC News.
Tom Kludt. (October 30, 2013). "Poll: Lindsey Graham's Approval Rating Tumbles In S.C". Talkingpointsmemo.com.
Rosen, James. "WASHINGTON: Graham: 'I expect' a primary challenge | News". The State.
Sullivan, Sean. (September 20, 2012). "Lindsey Graham, 2014 target?". The Washington Post.
Manu Raju. (April 23, 2014). "How Lindsey Graham outmaneuvered the tea party". Politico.
Molly Ball. (June 10, 2014). "How Lindsey Graham Stomped the Tea Party". The Atlantic.
Jonathan Martin. (June 10, 2014). "In South Carolina, Graham Prevails Without a Runoff". The New York Times.
Hamby, Peter. (February 4, 2014). "Pastor joins crowded GOP race to unseat Lindsey Graham". [[CNN]].
Shain, Andrew. (August 1, 2013). "First Citadel female grad, Sen. Bright will take on Graham". The State.
(September 2024). "Republican Cash to run against Graham in 2014". [[The Greenville News]].
Self, Jamie. (November 8, 2013). "SC Senate race: Bill Connor becomes Lindsey Graham's 4th GOP opponent". [[The State (newspaper).
Self, Jamie. (March 13, 2014). "Despite 'ambiguously gay' barb, four Graham foes unite". [[The State (newspaper).
Acosta, Adrian. (January 24, 2014). "Spartanburg police officer resigns to join U.S. Senate race". [[WHNS.
Staff, Twitchy. (March 27, 2013). "Bruce Carroll pulls a Judd, will not challenge Lindsey Graham". [[Twitchy]].
Smith, Gina. (February 1, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Tom Davis will not run for U.S. Senate, governor's office". [[The Island Packet]].
Arkin, James. (July 15, 2013). "Trey Gowdy: No 'interest' in Graham race". Politico.
(December 12, 2012). "Rep. Mulvaney won't run against Graham or his House colleagues for Senate". TheHill.
(July 14, 2013). "Other views: Campaign cash packs new punch at the polls". Aiken Standard.
(July 14, 2013). "Thomas Ravenel Mulling US Senate Bid". FITSNews.
Cameron Joseph. (December 6, 2012). "Mark Sanford not ruling out run for DeMint's seat". Roll Call.
Mollie Reilly. (December 6, 2012). "Mark Sanford Mulls Senate Run In South Carolina: Report". The Huffington Post.
"Lindsey Graham may be tough to beat in 2014 - Scott Wong and David Catanese". Politico.Com.
Tom Kludt. (November 6, 2013). "Chris Christie To Campaign For Lindsey Graham". Talkingpointsmemo.com.
Burgess Everett and Manu Raju. (April 15, 2014). "GOP Senate may run purple". [[Politico]].
(May 24, 2014). "Editorial: SC, US needs Lindsey Graham in the Senate". [[The State (newspaper).
Bostic, Curtis. (March 3, 2014). "Our Perspective on the 2014 Graham Senate Seat...". Constant Contact.
Self, Jamie. (April 30, 2014). "RedState's Erick Erickson endorses Det Bowers in US Senate race". [[The State (newspaper).
(May 16, 2014). "Sumter TEAvangelicals Endorse Det Bowers for US Senate". Det Bowers for Senate.
(January 30, 2014). "Greg Brannon Endorses Lee Bright for Senate". Bright for Senate.
Self, Jamie. (May 31, 2014). "Lee Bright endorsed for US Senate by SC representative, fellow Obamacare nullifier". [[The State (newspaper).
(April 9, 2014). "Congressman Thomas Massie Endorses Lee Bright for US Senate".
(November 5, 2013). "Surging Lee Bright Campaign Scores Another Endorsement". Bright for Senate.
(January 30, 2014). "Bright Scores Major Endorsement from Congressman Stockman". Bright for Senate.
(October 29, 2013). "Fairfield GOP Chair Resigns from Team Graham: Endorses Lee Bright for Senate". Bright for Senate.
(February 25, 2014). "Lewis Vaughn Endorses Lee Bright". YouTube.
(April 15, 2014). "Lee Bright's Campaign Endorsed Against Illegal Alien Amnesty Supporter Lindsey Graham". Americans for Legal Immigration PAC.
(March 28, 2014). "Top Challenger Bright Nabs Third Major 2nd Amendment Endorsement". Bright for Senate.
(October 24, 2013). "Lee Bright Gets Pro-Gun Nod". FITS News.
(October 7, 2013). "Kershaw County Patriots Endorse Lee Bright". FITS News.
{{usurped
Bright, Lee. (February 21, 2014). "The Laurens County Tea Party voted to endorse me for U.S. Senate with over 80% of the vote". Twitter.
Self, Jamie. (February 26, 2014). "ELECTION 2014: Bright, Mace endorsed by same gun group". [[The State (newspaper).
Jamie Self. (December 12, 2013). "Sen. Lee Bright reports $1.4 million in debt from failed trucking business". Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
(January 21, 2014). "Voice of the Unborn Endorses Lee Bright". [[YouTube]].
Tom Kludt. (February 25, 2014). "Tea Party Leader and FoxNews analyst endorses Connor". Bill Connor for US Senate.
Joseph, Cameron. (November 21, 2013). "Tim Scott won't endorse Lindsey Graham". [[The Hill (newspaper).
[https://www.c-span.org/video/?319650-1/south-carolina-republican-senate-primary-debate C-SPAN]
"Landmark/Rosetta Stone".
[https://web.archive.org/web/20131102002910/http://www.conservativeintel.com/1030-conservative-intel-poll-of-scsen-and-fits-primary-2016# Harper Polling]
[http://gravismarketing.com/polling-and-market-research/south-carolina-public-opinion-poll-us-senate-presidential-primary-republican/ Gravis Marketing]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140221120627/http://www.thestate.com/2014/02/06/3249491/election-2014-lindsey-graham-would.html North Star^]
[https://www.scribd.com/doc/205478000/SC-Sen-A-Wenzel-Strategies-for-Lee-Bright-Feb-2014 Wenzel Strategies*]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120321213048/http://www.winthrop.edu/winthroppoll/default.aspx?id=9804 Winthrop University]
[http://gravismarketing.com/polling-and-market-research/telephone-survey-latest-sc-political-poll/ Gravis Marketing]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140606192852/http://www.thestate.com/2014/05/27/3471062/sc-politics-graham-could-avoid.html TargetPoint]
[http://newsstand.clemson.edu/mediarelations/palmetto-poll-shows-voter-support-for-incumbents-in-s-c/ Clemson University] {{Webarchive. link. (June 6, 2014)
[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_SC_0207.pdf Public Policy Polling]
[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2010/PPP_Release_SC_601.pdf Public Policy Polling]
"Official results 2014 Statewide Primary Election June 10, 2014". South Carolina State Election Commission.
Shain, Andrew. (March 28, 2014). "ELECTION 2014 (updated): Who's filed for statewide, State House, Congressional offices". [[The State (newspaper).
Corey Hutchins. (March 4, 2014). "Independent 'contingency plan' in works if Lindsey Graham loses primary". [[Charleston City Paper]].
Mary Troyan. (June 15, 2014). "Dems pin Senate hopes on Hutto". Greenville News.
Jeffrey Collins. (May 18, 2014). "S.C. Democratic leaders choose sides in Senate race". The Times and Democrat.
(May 14, 2014). "South Carolina AFL-CIO Endorses Brad Hutto for US Senate". Brad Hutto for U.S. Senate.
(August 12, 2014). "Educators recommend South Carolina's Brad Hutto for U.S. Senate". National Education Association.
(June 9, 2014). "Brad Hutto for Dem nomination for U.S. Senate". [[The Greenville News]].
(May 26, 2014). "Editorial: Brad Hutto is only choice for Democratic nomination against US Sen Lindsey Graham". [[The State (newspaper).
[http://media.clemson.edu/newsroom/Palmetto-Poll-June-2014.pdf Clemson University]
(March 29, 2014). "Hutto seeking U.S. Senate seat". Fort Mill Times.
Schuyler Kropf. (March 4, 2014). "Newly minted reality TV star Thomas Ravenel may challenge Lindsey Graham for U.S. Senate seat in fall". [[The Post and Courier]].
Schuyler Kropf. (April 8, 2014). "Southern Charm recap: Thomas Ravenel and the U.S. Senate?". The State.
Callum, Lillia. "GREENVILLE, SC: Ravenel makes US Senate run official | Politics". The State.
(October 3, 2014). "Graham not participating in debate with opponents". The State.
(October 27, 2014). "Graham, Hutto plan first faceoff in Columbia".
"2014 Senate Race Ratings for November 3, 2014".
"The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks".
"2014 Senate Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report.
"2014 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2014". Real Clear Politics.
[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2014/south_carolina/election_2014_south_carolina_senate Rasmussen Reports]
[http://www.abcnews4.com/story/26106533/poll-ravenel-not-a-factor-for-graham-in-senate-race Voter Survey Service]
Victor Kocher (L)
[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/2014-midterms-republicans-narrowly-favored-to-capture-senate-in-november/ CBS News/NYT/YouGov]
[https://today.yougov.com/news/2014/09/07/battleground-tracker-2014-south-carolina/ CBS News/NYT/YouGov]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20141001212629/http://www.winthrop.edu/winthroppoll/default.aspx?id=9804&ekmensel=fee512e3_566_0_9804_3 Winthrop University]
Victor Kocher (L) 2.6%, Other 0.9%
[http://today.yougov.com/news/2014/09/07/senate-races-battleground-tracker/ CBS News/NYT/YouGov]
"SC - Election Results".
Aggregated total includes 24,207 votes Hutto received under the Working Families Party.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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