Thomas Murphy
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina
South Carolina Republican Senate nominee?
$737.0K
JUN 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds — South Carolina Republican Senate nominee?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
0.1%chance to win
$737.0KJUN 10, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleU.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force)
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationSouth Carolina
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BackgroundU.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force)
EducationKaplan University — Associate’s degree, Criminal Justice
Notable personal detailsThomas David Murphy is a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina. He was born at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and grew up in a military family, attending Department of Defense schools and graduating from Rincon High School in Tucson, Arizona. He earned associate and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice from Kaplan University, a Juris Doctor from Purdue University Global, and served as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman with the Fleet Marine Force, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom before retiring after more than 20 years of active duty service.
SourcesShowHide
Political 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.
Latest News
Thomas Murphy is in the news because he is one of the candidates in South Carolina’s crowded Republican special Senate primary. Voters are choosing a nominee to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, and a runoff is widely expected if no one wins a majority. The race has drawn attention for its large field and the compressed election timeline ahead of the general election.
Republican primary to fill Graham’s Senate seat is today
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Crowded GOP Senate primary field set as experts point to name recognition, fundraising
The Supreme Court Could Still Tilt the Midterms to the GOP
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising