Paul Dans, the architect of Project 2025, is launching a Senate bid in South Carolina to oust Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Dans is set to announce his Republican primary bid with a formal launch Wednesday in Charleston. Graham is a close Trump ally but has for years faced skepticism from his MAGA allies. He is already facing a challenge from former Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.
Last year, Dans oversaw Project 2025, the right-wing transition plan and policy blueprint that became the focal point of Democratic attacks against President Donald Trump. The project launched with the premise of setting up a future right-wing administration to govern on Day 1 with more preparation and planning than Trump had for his first term, and it included plans to radically restructure the civil service, provide a database of MAGA-inspired hires and offer a wide range of right-wing policy plans.
While Trump disavowed the plan and Dans was forced out at the Heritage Foundation — the conservative think tank where he organized the effort — many of the policy prescriptions have been undertaken by the Trump administration, and a number of contributors to the project have landed jobs there, too.
