Full Breakdown
Former GOP Governor Endorses Democrat Annie Andrews in South Carolina Senate Race
By Drooid · · How we work
Cross-Party Endorsement Highlights Senate Contest
Former South Carolina governor David Beasley, a Republican who led the state from 1995-1999 and later headed the United Nations World Food Programme, joined Democratic former governor Jim Hodges in a campaign video supporting Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews. The endorsement arrives as Andrews seeks to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed after her brother Sen. Lindsey Graham died in July. South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1998, and the state gave President Donald Trump a margin of nearly 18 points in 2024, underscoring the historical difficulty for a Democratic challenger.
Official Statements & Responses
In the video, Beasley noted that “over the years, the two of us haven't always agreed on everything,” emphasizing a shared concern that Andrews’ campaign presented the endorsement as evidence of a broader “Republicans for Annie” coalition, citing more than 100 Republican supporters, including Warren Norman, son of Rep. Ralph Norman.
Polling Data Shows Narrow Gap
An InsiderAdvantage survey conducted September 28-29 among 1,200 likely voters found Graham at 46 % and Andrews at 45 %, within the poll’s 2.83-point margin of error. An earlier InsiderAdvantage poll from September 8-9 placed Graham at 45.1 % and Andrews at 43.2 %. Pollster Matt Towery reported that “almost 10 % of Republicans” surveyed in late September indicated support for Andrews, suggesting a modest but potentially decisive crossover.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Over the years, the two of us haven't always agreed on everything,” — David Beasley, former South Carolina governor
Outlook and Potential Impact
The endorsement aims to translate Republican crossover sentiment into a coalition large enough to overcome the state’s entrenched GOP advantage. While polls show Andrews within a few points of Graham, the race remains historically challenging for a Democrat. The success of the “Republicans for Annie” effort will depend on whether the endorsement and reported 10 % Republican support can expand into a broader voter shift in the November ballot.