South Carolina Republican Senate nominee?
Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleRetired U.S. Navy hospital corpsman
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
LocationSouth Carolina
BackgroundRetired U.S. Navy hospital corpsman
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EducationKaplan University — A.S., Criminal Justice
Notable personal detailsThomas David Murphy is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina in the 2026 election cycle, challenging incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Republican primary. He is a retired U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman with more than two decades of service, including deployments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He earned associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice from Kaplan University and a Juris Doctor from Purdue University Global.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports lower taxes, reducing deficit and government spending, and using tax incentives to promote job growth and business development. Advocates fiscal responsibility and eliminating wasteful spending so families and businesses keep more of their income.
Healthcare
Supports protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions while opposing medical mandates and emphasizing ‘medical freedom.’ Proposes smarter Medicaid services, lowering prescription drug costs, and preserving market-oriented approaches rather than large public expansions.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger border security and measures to combat illegal immigration while opposing increases in legal immigration admissions. Frames immigration policy as a matter of public safety and resource strain and prioritizes enforcement-focused reforms.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate affirms strong support for Second Amendment rights and emphasizes protecting gun ownership and shooting sports while prioritizing public safety. Public materials highlight support for law enforcement and border security but do not provide detailed proposals for new gun restrictions such as universal background checks, assault weapons bans, or red flag laws. Overall messaging emphasizes defending gun rights while supporting community safety and policing.
News
National Democrats warn SC election officials that a DOJ voter-roll agreement could violate federal law and prompt a lawsuit if eligible voters are removed
Endorsements
Endorsers of Thomas Murphy for South Carolina Republican Senate nominee?
Mark Sanford
Public figure
Mark Sanford endorsed Thomas Murphy in the South Carolina Republican Senate race.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising




