Graham will probably be considered the front-runner, with his strong name recognition and a sizable war chest of $6.3 million as of June 30, according to Federal Election Commission reports. In 2008, Graham won his seat in the general election with 58% of the vote.

“I’m going to keep being a social and fiscal conservative that focuses on our national security, takes care of interests at home, like the Port of Charleston, working with my state officials, and be a conservative like Ronald Reagan who will sit down with a Tip O’Neill to solve Americans’ problems,” Graham told Candy Crowley, CNN’s chief political correspondent.