COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., and Democratic nominee Annie Andrews traded barbs Sunday night in their only debate for the South Carolina Senate seat, a race that has tightened in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections.
The candidates' arguments spanned topics including Iran, the economy and artificial intelligence, but the central theme often returned to each questioning the other's qualifications for the role.
Darline Graham, who was appointed to serve the remainder of her late brother Lindsey Graham's term, secured the Republican nomination after being endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Lindsey Graham had been seeking a fifth term when he died suddenly in July.
The race has become unexpectedly competitive, with outside groups pouring millions of dollars into supporting Graham, a situation some have described as an "insurance policy" for a Republican victory. Democrats are aiming to regain control of Congress amid lingering concerns about Trump's popularity.
During the debate, Darline Graham referenced her support for Trump, though less stridently than in the special primary. Andrews countered by saying she would challenge her own party when in disagreement, suggesting Graham, as "the White House's ambassador to South Carolina," would not.
Andrews also criticized Graham for leveraging her family name for political gain. Graham responded that she used her maiden name to maintain a connection to her parents, who died when she was young, and that her legal name has always been Graham.
On foreign policy, Andrews questioned Graham's preparedness, referencing a previous instance where Graham admitted that national security was "not my thing" when asked about U.S. interests in Taiwan and the South China Sea. Graham retorted that Andrews was being dishonest and had flip-flopped on issues, while she herself was honest about her knowledge gaps.
The discussion on artificial intelligence led to another exchange regarding qualifications. Graham expressed support for Trump's creation of an AI task force, prompting Andrews to state that while Graham was adequate as an interim senator, she was not suited for a full six-year term. Graham responded by questioning Andrews' qualifications, noting her opponent had not previously held elected office.
Libertarian candidate Kasie Whitener was also present, but the main contention was between Graham and Andrews. The race is notable as South Carolina is poised to elect its first woman to the U.S. Senate, with three women competing for the seat.
Early voting in South Carolina is scheduled to begin Oct. 19.