GOProud Board Member Resigns; Contemplating Primary Challenge To South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham

Interesting news out of South Carolina this morning. Bruce Carroll, an openly gay Republican and board member at GOProud, has resigned his position on that organization’s board of directors. He is seriously contemplating making a run for Senate and challenging Lindsey Graham in the primary. If successful, Carroll would be South Carolina’s first openly gay Senator.

Carroll first made his announcement on his blog, GayPatriot.net:

It is with mixed feelings that I announce my resignation this morning from the gay conservative group GOProud that I helped found in 2009.  I was recently elected Vice Chairman of the organization in order to concentrate on expanding GOProud’s chapters and grassroots strength nationwide.

Last week, speculation grew in South Carolina and on social media outlets about my interest in challenging incumbent US Senator Lindsey Graham who has been in Congress for 18 years.

In the spirit of transparency and honesty, I informed my fellow GOProud board members that I could not dedicate the time to the organization while I seriously considered the effort it will take to challenge Senator Graham in the 2014 Primary.

Ben Howe filed this report at RedState:

Ever since South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham failed to support Sen. Rand Paul’s epic filibuster, there have been rumors circulating of potential primary challenges to end what will be a 12 year run next year.

After Graham sided with Sen. John McCain’s characterization of Paul and his allies as “wacko birds” the interest in unseating him reached a fever pitch.

…. today comes news that conservative blogger and activist, Bruce Carroll, is exploring a run against Senator Graham and he’s not being cagey about it. Carroll told me, “I was inspired by Sen Rand Paul’s ardent defense of the Constitution last week. It made me conclude that Senator Graham is out of step with his state’s voters on a variety of issues.” He went on to say that, “Sen. Graham has lost touch with his state. That’s why I’m looking into how I can be a part of the effort to bring him home from Washington, DC.”

As Howe notes, South Carolina is turning into a hotbed of political intrigue for 2014. Jim DeMint recently resigned his seat in the US Senate to take over as the President of the Heritage Foundation, and of course Republican Governor Nikki Haley will be up for reelection that year as well. With Graham’s continuing record of political compromise and situational principles, speculation was already rampant about a primary challenge. That speculation grew to a dull roar during Rand Paul’s filibuster, when Graham sided with John McCain (R-ish – AZ) in denouncing the move.

It seems that South Carolina is craving more conservative leadership. Add the name Bruce Carroll to the list of possible replacements.

Also, FreedomWorks for America has a site where you can nominate candidates and add your input in these primary challenges.  Let them know what you think!