Architect of Authoritarian Project 2025 Bails on South Carolina Senate Race, Throws Support Behind Graham Challenger

Paul Dans, the controversial conservative strategist who masterminded Project 2025 — a radical blueprint for authoritarian governance championed by the Heritage Foundation — has abruptly ended his campaign to challenge Senator Lindsey Graham in the South Carolina Republican primary. Dans announced his withdrawal on the final day to remove his name from the ballot, simultaneously endorsing Mark Lynch, an appliance store owner and political newcomer, in his bid to unseat the entrenched incumbent.

Dans’ campaign was plagued from the start by his association with Project 2025, a sweeping plan developed by over 100 right-wing groups to reshape the federal government under a future Republican president. The project calls for dismantling the federal workforce, politicizing agencies, and eroding civil liberties — an agenda so extreme that even Donald Trump sought to distance himself from it during his political comeback. Dans’ ties to the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint ultimately cost him his role there, though the organization remains a loyal Trump ally.

Despite his efforts, Dans failed to gain traction against Graham, a veteran senator known for his unwavering support of Trump’s foreign policy, including backing the president’s war plans in Iran. Graham’s close relationship with Trump and his established political network proved difficult to overcome, especially as the GOP primary field remained divided.

In a final jab, Dans criticized Graham with a derogatory nickname on social media and pledged full support to Lynch, signaling a desire among some far-right factions to replace Graham with a more hardline figure. Meanwhile, Trump celebrated Dans’ exit on Truth Social, mocking Dans’ endorsement by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson — whom Trump has recently clashed with — and reaffirmed his backing of Graham, touting the senator’s ability to “get things done.”

The South Carolina Senate race now centers on Graham’s bid for a fifth term against Lynch, whose outsider status and previous support for Trump adversary Rep. Thomas Massie have drawn the president’s ire. Dans’ withdrawal underscores the ongoing turbulence within the GOP as it grapples with internal feuds, the legacy of authoritarian blueprints like Project 2025, and the challenge of maintaining unified support for Trump-aligned candidates.

This episode serves as a stark reminder that the far right’s attempts to reshape American democracy are fracturing even within their own ranks — but the threat they pose to democratic norms remains very real. We will continue to track how these power struggles unfold and hold accountable those pushing the authoritarian agenda behind the scenes.