Incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham avoided a runoff and easily coasted to victory against a fractured field of tea party challengers in South Carolina’s Republican primary on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
Graham, once seen as vulnerable to a primary challenge from a more conservative candidate, received more than half the vote needed to avoid a runoff election later this month.
The two-term incumbent benefited from a large fundraising advantage over his six tea party challengers who argued that Graham is too moderate for the conservative state.
Graham is heavily favored in November’s general election.
