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Former South Carolina lieutenant governor André Bauer suspended his campaign for the U.S. Senate on Friday (August 8, 2025) – scarcely five weeks after he entered the race.
Bauer’s decision, which he announced “after deep prayer and reflection,” leaves Paul Dans – a veteran corporate litigator and the author of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 – as the top remaining rival to incumbent “neoconservative” senator Lindsey Graham.
“This decision does not come lightly,” Bauer said. “I entered this race with a servant’s heart — believing that our nation needs leaders who are grounded in truth, integrity, and faith. But I believe now, more than ever, that in order for us to truly move forward, we must stop tearing one another down with lies and division.”
“I cannot and will not be part of a political climate that rewards deception over honesty, or ambition over unity,” Bauer continued. “God calls us to walk in truth, to speak life, and to be peacemakers — not power seekers. If we are going to win — truly win — it won’t be through slander or selfish gain. It will be through unity, humility, and a shared desire to honor God and serve one another.”
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“I pray the remaining candidates can do just that,” Bauer concluded. “I’m deeply grateful to all who supported this campaign my family and I over the years. God Bless.”
Bauer, 56, originally of Charleston, S.C., was first elected to the S.C. House of Representatives in his late twenties, rising quickly through the ranks of the newly minted “Republican” majority in Columbia, S.C. In March 1999, he won a special election to the S.C. Senate just eleven days after his 30th birthday – and in January of 2003 he became the youngest lieutenant governor in the nation at the age of 33.
Upon leaving the lieutenant governor’s office in 2011, Bauer spent several years as a CNN analyst – and was nominated by president Donald Trump in July 2020 to be the U.S. ambassador to Belize. When Trump announced his 2024 reelection bid in South Carolina, Bauer was one of the first Palmetto State politicians to appear alongside him and endorse his candidacy.
Bauer’s departure from the race was welcomed by Dans, who said “our country is at a crossroads.” Dans referred to Bauer as a “patriot” and encouraged him and Greer, S.C. businessman Mark Lynch to unite behind his candidacy.
(Click to view)
“André Bauer’s decision to step aside reflects the humility and integrity that South Carolina conservatives cherish,” Dans said. “His call for unity and truth resonates deeply with our campaign’s mission to put our nation and the people of South Carolina first. I also commend Mark Lynch for his commitment to challenging the status quo. Together, we can consolidate the anti-Graham vote and send a clear message: South Carolina demands a Senator who fights for our values, not the D.C. swamp.”
U.S. Navy veteran Thomas Murphy is also campaigning for the GOP nomination for this U.S. Senate seat, which Graham has held since January 2003.
“I invite Andre Bauer, Mark Lynch, and all South Carolinians who reject Lindsey Graham’s betrayal of our values to join us,” Dans said. “Together, we will build a coalition rooted in truth, unity, and a shared commitment to putting America first. Let’s retire Lindsey Graham and make South Carolina the beacon of conservative leadership our nation needs.”
Will Bauer join Dans’ campaign? That remains to be seen. Sources close to the former lieutenant governor hinted his statement about “lies and division” in modern politics was meant as a rebuke of Dans, who aggressively criticized Bauer upon entering the race.
BANNER VIA: GAGE SKIDMORE
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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9 comments
Just as well. For some reason SC voters, or whoever stuffs the ballot boxes, loves our little chickenhawk Lindseypoo Graham. Maybe in another year, a different lineup, Andre might have a chance. For some reason South Carolinians seem to have a “thing” for having sexually ambiguous US Senators.
So Strom Thurmond was ambiguous?
My reply was placed under the wrong comment. Thurmond was 25 years ago. Look at what we’ve had for the last 15 or so years.
Paul Dans says, “doesn’t reflect OUR values.” Seriously, you said OUR. Man, don’t do that. There is no OUR. You moved here to run. Most of us native South Carolinians take offense to you grouping yourself with us. YOU ARE NOT A SOUTH CAROLINIAN. Get the hell out of OUR political process. The entire problem in politics is people like you. You right some political plan that agreed has some decent points, but also some very bad philosophy. You want to force feed people rather than debate and be civil. As soon as a Republican disagrees on an issue or two, you call them a RINO. You want to be the tyrant or Oz behind the curtain. That is not SC or American. We do not want you or need you. Go hang with Abnormal Norman.
…. and he drove off into the sunset at 110 mph with flashing blue lights in hot pursuit.
Thurmond was 25 years ago. That was then. This is now. Look at what we have had pretty much consistently for a while, now.
Somebody has some dirt on poor old Andre.
I mean beyond all the stuff we already know about…
As Clint Eastwood reminds us as Dirty Harry: “A man’s got to know his limitations.” And of course the Peter Principle tells us that in the workforce “people tend to rise to their level of incompetence.” Andre reached both these milestones early in his political career. Which leaves us with Graham and Dans…. Pleased indulge me with one final quote: “In the land if the blind, the one-eyed are kings!”