Lindsay Graham, the long-serving South Carolina senator, is facing a challenge from Thomas David Murphy, a Navy veteran who’s been making waves among conservatives. Graham, who has angered Trump supporters for his willingness to betray the president and his conservative views, is one of the least popular Republicans in the Senate.
For context, conservatives have long recognized the term RINO, or Republican In Name Only, as a shorthand for scummy politicians who betray their constituents by adopting Swamp Politics once entrenched in Washington.
In any case, Project Constitution, a conservative new outlet, made a popular post on X on June 2, 2025, which let the public know about Murophy’s background. Starting off, the post said, “This Guy is Challenging RINO Lindsey Graham for his Senate Seat. Lets Share the Hell out of this and get His Name Out There. Graham Must be Primaried in the Midterms.”
Providing background, the post read, “Thomas David Murphy is a retired U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman and a declared candidate challenging incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham in the 2026 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina.”
Explaining the conservative’s decorated service, the post stated, “Murphy served over two decades in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, with multiple deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He is a combat veteran and, notably, an amputee, serving as a goalkeeper on USA Hockey’s amputee team. His military background is a cornerstone of his campaign, emphasizing service and sacrifice.”
Digging deeper into his background, the post revealed, “Murphy resides in South Carolina and is involved in local community activities. His campaign website and public statements emphasize his identity as a patriot and family man…Murphy officially announced his candidacy on February 23, 2025, to challenge Lindsey Graham in the 2026 Republican primary. His campaign is framed as a push for “absolute conservatism” and accountability to South Carolina voters over lobbyists.”
Explaining why this brave patriot decided to run for office, the author wrote, “Murphy’s decision to run stems from dissatisfaction with Graham’s long tenure and perceived policy shifts, particularly on global military engagements and progressive policies. He has criticized Graham for draining taxpayer funds, notably citing Graham’s involvement in Ukraine as an example of misplaced priorities.”
Continuing to describe his strong conservative values, Project Constitution noted that Murphy “Advocates for lowering taxes and reducing deficit spending” and “Supports school choice to enhance parental control over education.” The same post explained how he “Opposes global military engagements, favoring a non-interventionist stance,” and is a “Strong defender of the First and Second Amendments.”
Concluding the post with more details on the Navy vet’s strong conservative values, they wrote, “Supports term limits for Congress and the Senate, a ban on stock trading by Congress members, and the repeal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.”
Describing his political history, the post noted, “Murphy has been politically active, supporting South Carolina Senate candidate Zoe Warren in 2024 and various Lexington County school board candidates, indicating a history of grassroots involvement,” adding, “He maintains an active online presence, with a campaign website https://thomasmurphy4sc.com and social media engagement, particularly on X, where he has directly called for support from conservative influencers like Charlie Kirk.”
