‘You can’t beat Graham,’ Joe Wilson’s wife yells at GOP US Senate hopeful Paul Dans
U.S. Senate hopeful Paul Dans probably isn’t getting the support of Joe and Roxanne Wilson.
Roxanne Wilson, the wife of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson and mother of Attorney General Alan Wilson, made it clear Monday she does not seem to have any belief that Dans can knock off U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in the June GOP primary.
As Dans spoke to the Lexington County Republican Party, Roxanne Wilson in the first of three interruptions in the last seven minutes of his remarks questioned how he could think he would win a primary where Graham has tens of millions dollars in a campaign war chest.
“The Lord shall provide,” Dans said, a line which received applause from the crowd.
Joe Wilson, who famously shouted out “You lie” at President Barack Obama during a 2009 joint session of Congress on health care reform, is a regular attendee of Lexington County GOP meetings, but he was not present Monday.
At the end of the third quarter, Graham reported having $14.5 million cash on hand. Dans had $96,000.
Dans also has put in $134,000 of his own money into his bid to oust Graham. Graham also has President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the election.
“I’m putting my money where my mouth is. I’m not owned by anybody, but it’s not easy to get up there, but somebody has to do it,” Dans said during last seven minutes of remarks.
The 2025 year-end reports are due to the Federal Election Commission at the end of the month.
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As Dans, the architect of Project 2025, made his pitch of what he wants to accomplish in the U.S. Senate, including ending funding to Ukraine, cutting government spending and rebuilding industry in the U.S.
“You have to get to Washington first. You can’t beat Lindsey Graham because of the money he’s got,” Roxanne Wilson said loudly as she interrupted his remarks.
Dans argued only a small percentage of people actually vote to explain he has a chance.
“It’s eminently doable. We need to activate the youth. The youth are behind us,” Dans said.
Dans also said he believes he would be assigned to the Senate Judiciary committee, which Graham is a member of. Roxanne Wilson dismissed that notion. The Senate, however, also considers seniority when making committee assignments and Dans would be a freshmen member next year if elected. Graham, who is a member of the Judiciary Committee, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002.
“You will not be on the Judiciary Committee,” Roxanne Wilson said to Dans.
That led to a name drop from Dans, who is a lawyer.
“I know Mike Lee,” Dans said referring to the U.S. senator from Utah.
Roxanne Wilson left immediately after Dans’ remarks ended.
The Dans campaign declined to comment about Roxane Wilson’s remarks.
Joe Wilson, in a statement released by his campaign said he appreciates his wife’s insight adding she began supporting Trump in 2015.
“Her judgment is farsighted,” Joe Wilson said. “Sen. Graham is a long time friend of the Wilson family and I would like to join President Trump in giving him my complete and total endorsement.”
This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 1:06 PM with the headline "‘You can’t beat Graham,’ Joe Wilson’s wife yells at GOP US Senate hopeful Paul Dans."
