Architect Of Project 2025 To Challenge Sen. Lindsey Graham In South Carolina GOP Primary: 'Time To Show Him The Door'

Paul Dans, described as a key architect of Project 2025, is set to challenge Sen. Lindsey Graham in next year's GOP primary in South Carolina, The Associated Press reported on Monday.

Dans told the outlet that the Trump administration is moving forward with the federal workforce reduction he envisioned, as well as cuts to federal programs, but claimed there is "more work to do," especially in the Upper House.

"If you look at where the chokepoint is, it's the United States Senate. That's the headwaters of the swamp," Dans said. He is expected to formally announced his candidacy at an event in Charleston on Wednesday, but has already claimed that it is already time to "show the door" to Lindsey Graham, a high-profile Trump ally who has been a senator for over 20 years.

The Associated Press noted that Graham has managed to defeat contenders over the years, and that Dans' candidacy can be considered a "long shot." Graham quickly got Trump's endorsement in the last election, while Dans said he expects to get support from Project 2025 allies, as well as Trump supporters who have become tired of Graham.

Graham is not the only Trump ally facing challenges from the right. Texas Sen. John Cornyn is also set to face off against state Attorney General Ken Paxton, pitting two factions of MAGA Republicans against each other.

A June poll l released by the Educational Freedom Institute and conducted by pollster Robert Blizzard showed Cornyn trailing behind Paxton by 22 points.

The survey showed Paxton leading Cornyn 50% to 28% among Republican primary voters. More specifically, the attorney general expanded his lead among voters described as "very conservative GOP primary voters," leading Cornyn 60% to 22%. The poll also showed Paxton leading Cornyn by 35 points among "MAGA voters" and by 12 points among senior voters.

Patrick Flavin, professor and interim chair of political science at Baylor University, said the poll is concerning for Cornyn because both candidates had high name recognition, so his polling deficit is not because voters are unfamiliar with him.

"I think Cornyn is probably suffering from what's a larger issue in Texas politics, which is the divide in the Republican Party between a more Trump-supporting version versus a more traditional, business version," he said. "Paxton and Cornyn perfectly characterize those two factions in the Republican Party."

However, Cornyn's team is not worried about the recent polls, with his campaign saying in a recent statement to The Hill that it was "silly season for polling and this one takes the gold medal."

"A poll conducted by a longtime Paxton supporter doesn't pass the smell test. We remain confident that once Republican primary voters fully understand Ken Paxton's record of ethical failures, mismanagement and corruption, we will win this primary," said Matt Mackowiak, a Cornyn campaign senior adviser.