Former South Carolina Lt Gov André Bauer challenges Lindsey Graham in Senate race

Bauer, a Republican as well as a CNN contributor, posted an announcement on X, "Today, I am officially announcing my campaign for U.S. Senate. As a proven conservative fighter, I will unapologetically stand with President Trump and the America First agenda and will fight to put South Carolina first — 100% guaranteed!"

The video announcement features a montage of clips with Bauer backing up Trump as well as the president complimenting Bauer, saying that he could “run for almost any office and win."

In response to the election bid video, Graham's press secretary Abby Zilch posted an old LinkedIn post of Bauer taking a picture with now-former Vice President Kamala Harris in which he said that he was "blessed to be a part of the The Aspen Institute with Kamala Harris," and said that she was an “old friend.” The post was made around five years ago and has since been removed, however, it is still accessible through an archived page.

"Andre Bauer has spent his career chasing titles to feed his ego, running for five different offices and even trying to leverage Senator Graham and the White House for an ambassadorship," Zilch said in another statement.

Chris LaCitvita, who is also working on Graham's campaign, posted, in response to the campaign announcement, "Rumor on the street is this 'campaign' is being run by ... [Axiom Strategies]? Definitely not aligned with [Donald Trump.].

Bauer’s campaign website targets Graham, saying that he is "South Carolina's Answer to the DC Swamp."

"While Lindsey Graham funds foreign wars and cuts deals with the left, André will put South Carolina first, defend our values, and stand with President Trump to secure the border, rein in government, and take on the establishment swamp," the page states.

Trump endorsed Graham in March after Mark Lynch, a businessman from South Carolina, announced that he was running against Graham in February, per Fox Carolina.

“South Carolinians deserve a God-fearing, conservative businessman to fight alongside President Trump against the powers of evil that have such a tight grip on career politicians, not a traitorous, back-stabbing flimsy flip flopper like Lindsey Graham who pretends to put America first when the next election comes around,” Lynch said at the time.