Paul Dans, a principal author of the Heritage Foundation-led Project 2025, is challenging Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for his seat in the U.S. Senate, according to The Associated Press.
Dans told the news service that “more work” is required beyond the slashing of federal programs and workers outlined in Project 2025.
“What we’ve done with Project 2025 is really change the game in terms of closing the door on the progressive era,” Dans said. “If you look at where the chokepoint is, it’s the United States Senate. That’s the headwaters of the swamp.”
The AP noted that Dans is expected to formally announce his campaign Wednesday morning.
Project 2025, a 900-page “governing agenda,” detailed conservative priorities in the event a Republican secured the White House in last November’s election.
Dans, who left Heritage one year ago amid backlash to many of Project 2025’s proposals, told Politico in March he was very pleased with the president’s agenda to that point.
“I’m saying that directionally, they have a lot in common, but so do great minds,” Dans said. “We had hoped, those of us who worked putting together Project 2025, that the next conservative president would seize the day, but Trump is seizing every minute of every hour.”
Graham has been in the Senate for more than two decades. He was previously a critic of President Trump, but has since become a staunch defender of the president.
The Hill has reached out to Graham’s campaign for comment.
“After being unceremoniously dumped in 2024 while trying to torpedo Donald Trump’s historic campaign, Paul Dans has parachuted himself into the state of South Carolina in direct opposition to President Trump’s longtime friend and ally in the Senate, Lindsey Graham,” Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Graham’s campaign who co-managed Trump’s 2024 bid, said in a statement to the AP.
