Project 2025 architect to challenge Lindsey Graham for Senate in South Carolina

Paul Dans, the architect of Project 2025, is launching a Senate bid in South Carolina to oust Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Dans is set to announce his Republican primary bid with a formal launch on Wednesday in Charleston. Graham is a close Trump ally but has for years faced skepticism from his MAGA allies, is already facing a challenge from former Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

Last year, Dans oversaw Project 2025, the right-wing transition plan and policy blueprint that became the focal point of Democratic attacks against President Donald Trump. The project launched with the premise of setting up a future right-wing administration to govern on Day 1 with more preparation and planning than Trump had for his first term, and it included plans to radically restructure the civil service, provide a database of MAGA-inspired hires and offer a wide range of right-wing policy plans.

While Trump disavowed the plan and Dans was forced out at the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank where he organized the effort, many of the policy prescriptions have been undertaken by the Trump administration, and a number of contributors to the project have landed jobs there, too.