Incumbent Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) intensified her criticism of Democratic challenger Annie Andrews in the South Carolina Senate debate on Sunday night.
Graham framed her opponent as “the most radical liberal who has ever run for state office in South Carolina” and said she supports progressive policies such as Medicare for All and open borders. She also said Andrews is “a pediatrician who can’t define what a woman is.”
Andrews rejected those characterizations and similarly sharpened her attacks against the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)’s sister, who was appointed his replacement after his sudden death in July. Andrews framed her Republican opponent as an establishment figure who won’t challenge any of President Donald Trump’s unpopular policies, particularly those relating to the conflict in Iran and high domestic gas prices. Andrews referred to Graham as “the White House’s ambassador to South Carolina.”
Graham also sharply rebuked Andrews for implying she altered her last name in the wake of her brother’s death. The Republican candidate maintained her legal name “had always been Graham,” and she had never used her husband’s, Nordone, on legal documents, according to the Associated Press.
“I told you my opponent was going to call me a socialist, and there she’s done it again,” Andrews said. “She’s been told to come out here and call me Bernie, Ocasio, Mamdani — that’s what’s in her script. But the truth is, my name is Annie Andrews, and there shouldn’t be any confusion about that because, unlike my opponent, I haven’t changed my name recently.”
“My legal name is Graham, it has always been Graham,” the Republican candidate said in response. “Thank you for bringing up a horrible memory for me.”
The three candidates also discussed artificial intelligence and data center construction, the nation’s debt problem, and Social Security. Graham noted in her opening statement this election cycle is the first time South Carolina will elect a woman to the Senate, and the debate occurred exactly three months after her late brother’s death. Libertarian Kasie Whitener was the third participant.
“My opponent has flip-flopped on almost every issue during this campaign to try and hide her extreme, radical, & progressive record from South Carolinians,” Graham said in a social media post following the debate. Trump, who was a close ally of Graham’s late brother, immediately endorsed her after she assumed his position.
DARLINE GRAHAM DEBATE MAKE-OR-BREAK MOMENT FOR TRUMP-BACKED NOMINEE
Sunday’s contentious gathering was a make-or-break moment in the race, given it’s the only general election debate currently scheduled. Early voting in the state begins Oct. 19.
Though South Carolina is a state Trump won in the 2024 presidential election by almost 18 percentage points, Democrats largely view Graham’s seat as a pickup opportunity. She faced criticism following a primary debate in which she said national security “is not my thing” while fielding a question about China and Taiwan, a comment notable in part because of her late brother’s devotion to that topic.