In a striking show of bipartisan unity, two former South Carolina governors have thrown their support behind Democrat Annie Andrews in her uphill battle against Republican Sen. Darline Graham. The endorsements come as the race tightens, with recent polling and funding shifts suggesting a more competitive contest than initially expected.
David Beasley, a Republican who served from 1995 to 1999, and Jim Hodges, a Democrat who succeeded him and served from 1999 to 2003, appeared together in a campaign video released Monday for Andrews. The two men, who were political rivals in the 1998 gubernatorial election, set aside their past differences to unite behind a common cause.
"Over the years, the two of us haven’t always agreed on everything," Hodges acknowledged in the video. Beasley added, "But one thing we do agree on right now is this country is too divided, and the political rhetoric has gotten way, way out of hand."
Their message was clear: Andrews represents a break from the partisan gridlock that has consumed Washington. "Annie understands that leadership isn’t about making people angrier. It’s about making things better," Beasley said. "We may have served as your governor from different political parties, but we agree South Carolina deserves better than more of the same political fight."
Beasley’s endorsement is particularly notable given his recent criticism of the Republican Party’s direction under President Trump. In an op-ed last week, he wrote that the party is "not the party that I knew, and it is not the party that I consider myself a member of." His willingness to cross party lines underscores the dissatisfaction among some conservatives with the current political climate.
Andrews faces an uphill battle against Graham, who was appointed to the Senate seat after the death of her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Darline Graham has leaned heavily on Trump’s endorsement, but the president’s approval has been strained by ongoing military actions in Iran and rising consumer costs. During a recent debate, Graham was pressed on her support for Trump’s controversial Russian oil deal, which has been criticized for potentially undermining sanctions. She defended the agreement, saying it "gives the president tools that he can use if he so chooses to end the war through economic sanctions."
Graham also attempted to paint Andrews as a socialist, a common attack line in conservative campaigns. Andrews fired back, accusing her opponent of avoiding substantive issues. "My opponent is going to stand up here tonight and call me a socialist because that’s what her script says," Andrews said. "And also because she doesn’t want to talk to you about your high gas prices, grocery prices or your closing rural hospital."
The Cook Political Report recently shifted its rating of the race away from the GOP, citing a surge in fundraising that has boosted Andrews’s prospects. Decision Desk HQ, however, still favors Graham, giving her a 67 percent chance of victory compared to Andrews’s 33 percent. The race remains a long shot for Democrats, but the former governors’ endorsements could energize moderate voters and independents in a state that has trended heavily Republican in recent years.
As the election approaches, both campaigns are ramping up efforts. Trump is scheduled to visit South Carolina in a final push for Graham, while Andrews is leveraging her bipartisan support to appeal to voters tired of partisan bickering. The outcome could signal whether Democrats can make inroads in the South, even in a challenging political environment.
