Lindsey Graham's allies spend big to ward off a Republican challenger
Graham’s campaign and allied groups have spent heavily on ads as he tries to avoid a primary runoff.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates The Seattle Times, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The page identifies the New York Times as the original publisher, whose established reporting and editorial standards support a high credibility assessment. The Seattle Times is an established regional outlet, and the attribution makes the reporting’s origin clear.
- Track record — The article identifies the New York Times as its original publisher, an established national newsroom.
- Editorial standards — The originating publication is a major newsroom with established editorial processes.
- Transparency — The page explicitly says the story was originally published at nytimes.com.
- Author attribution — The article names a reporter.
The article supplies specific fundraising and advertising figures and attributes them to polling, campaign filings and an ad-tracking firm. It offers useful detail on both races, though it includes little direct response from the candidates or supporting groups.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article reports spending and fundraising by candidates and allied groups on both sides of the races, with a neutral tone. It provides limited direct comment from candidates and does not identify the donors behind one super PAC.
- Source diversity — It draws on polling, campaign filings and an ad-tracking firm, but includes few direct voices.
- Counterarguments presented — The article describes both Graham-aligned spending and Lynch’s campaign spending, but does not offer extensive candidate responses.
- Loaded language — The story mostly uses neutral language and attributes the attack ad’s wording to the group that ran it.
- Omitted context — It notes that Palmetto Action has not disclosed its donors but gives limited further context about the groups’ motivations.
The article uses a straightforward, data-focused account of campaign spending and fundraising without discernible partisan framing.
- Language tone — The wording is largely descriptive and avoids editorial judgments.
- Source selection — Figures are attributed to filings, a tracking firm and polling, though direct candidate perspectives are limited.
- Framing — The article compares campaign spending and fundraising across two races.
Republished with credit
Republished from The New York Times, with credit to the original publisher.
89 stories · 94–95 · updated Oct 6, 2026
This is The New York Times's own score, and this article is credited to The New York Times. The host score in the Source Check is The Seattle Times's.
Allies of Sen. Lindsey Graham and his campaign have spent heavily on ads as he faces a possible runoff in the South Carolina Republican primary. The article also compares fundraising and ad spending in a competitive House race to replace Rep. Nancy Mace.
Graham’s supporters have spent more than $18 million on ads, including spending by two super PACs, while his campaign has increased its own ad spending. Recent polls show him ahead of Mark Lynch, but the article says Graham could face Lynch in a June 23 runoff if he does not receive more than half the vote. Graham raised about $5.3 million, while Lynch raised about $606,000 and lent his campaign another $5 million.
In the race for Mace’s House seat, Nancy Lacore raised $1.4 million after entering the contest in January, more than any other candidate in the race. House Majority PAC has bought more than $2 million in ads for the fall, and Mark Smith led the Republican candidates in contributions, excluding candidates’ personal loans.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo good or bad look here
This story reports what happened without casting Graham in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Graham’s record.
People in this story
SWIPE →South Carolina representative running for governor
Democratic candidate for Mace’s House seat
President who endorsed Graham
Defense secretary who fired Lacore
Republican candidate for Mace’s House seat and member of the South Carolina House
Democratic Senate candidate who may face the Republican primary winner
Part of a bigger story
24 OUTLETSGraham won South Carolina’s Republican Senate primary and is set to face Democrat Annie Andrews in November. Center outlets mostly present the nomination as an election result, often alongside other South Carolina races and campaign context. Right-leaning outlets emphasize Graham’s strong showing and Trump’s endorsement, also placing the win among wider primary contests.
- ARTICLES
- 27
- OUTLETS
- 24
- AVG CRED
- 76
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