In a development that may have seemed far-fetched one year ago, a Democratic candidate appears to have emerged within striking distance of flipping a long-held GOP seat in the U.S. Senate. In a new wrinkle in the race in South Carolina, two of the state’s former governors, from opposing parties, have now jointly endorsed Democrat Annie Andrews one week before Election Day.
Former governors quash rivalry to endorse Democrat in latest twist to South Carolina Senate race
In a video shared by Andrews’ campaign for U.S. Senate, Republican David Beasley and Democrat Jim Hodges, both former South Carolina governors, give Andrews their endorsement. As the two explain, “over the years, the two of us haven’t agreed on everything, 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.” They explain that they are endorsing Andrews because she realizes that “leadership isn’t about making people angrier; it’s about making things better.” The former governors tell voters that “South Carolina deserves better than more of the same political fighting” and urge listeners to send Andrews to the U.S. Senate.
The endorsement by two former political rivals is the latest twist in the South Carolina race. Andrews is looking to displace Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed to fill out the final months of the term of her brother, longtime Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died in office in July. Darline Graham has since decided to run for a full term in November’s election, placing her against Andrews, who won the Democratic primary earlier this year to challenge Lindsey Graham. Recent polls indicate a tight race, with Graham leading by 4 points in one survey and by only 1 point in a different poll.
Cross-party endorsements give Democrats an opening
The tight race comes despite, or perhaps because of, the support that President Trump has given to Graham, whose brother was one of the president’s closest allies in the Senate. While the Graham brand remains popular in South Carolina, Darline Graham’s appointment has been controversial given accusations of nepotism in her selection and her lack of political experience. Her GOP challenger for the Senate nomination called her out for her lack of foreign policy knowledge, in contrast to her brother, who was heavily involved in international affairs. Furthermore, while Trump easily won South Carolina in each of his three elections and the state has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1998, growing discontent with the president may be pulling down candidates like Graham who are closely allied to Trump.
Andrews, meanwhile, has recently campaigned with Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, who has built up a track record of winning in the Deep South and who has been pushing the Democratic Party to place greater support behind southern candidates like Andrews. Warnock’s strategy is supported by the closeness of races like that in South Carolina, and the endorsement by two former governors could make a difference in deciding the outcome of that contest. Beasley joining Hodges to issue a joint endorsement continues a pattern of Republicans crossing the aisle to endorse Democrats, a trend that could be decisive in close races. Other recent examples include former Republican Govs. Bill Graves and Mike Hayden of Kansas endorsing Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton in his race against Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. Many Texas Republicans, including members of the Bush family, have likewise endorsed Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.
It remains to be seen whether Andrews will ultimately win in South Carolina. The state remains deeply Republican; the same poll that showed Andrews and Graham in a statistical tie has Republican candidate for governor Alan Wilson 10 points ahead of his Democratic opponent, Jermaine Johnson. However, a Senate race this close in the final week points to discontent with the Republican Party that could translate into Democratic victories, but whether that happens in South Carolina won’t be clear until Election Day.