By admin 
As Annie Andrews seeks to become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina in more than a quarter-century, she is banking on some typical Republican voters to help her succeed.
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Andrews’ campaign announced about 100 individuals it says are longtime Republicans are now supporting the Lowcountry pediatrician. The announcement came one day before President Donald Trump campaigns in the Upstate with Republican nominee U.S. Sen. Darline Graham.
“I am endorsing Dr. Annie Andrews because her focus on children, families, and access to healthcare speaks directly to the work that has mattered most to me throughout my public service,” said former state Sen. Katrina Shealy, a Republican from Lexington County, in a news release from Andrews’ campaign.
Andrews’ campaign hosted meet-and-greets with typically Republican voters, according to her campaign, individuals that could be key to her success in becoming South Carolina’s next junior U.S. senator.
Andrews is competing against Graham, Mark Hackett of the Constitution Party and Libertarian Kasie Whitener for the state’s U.S. Senate seat.
Still, Graham has been supported by major Republican leaders in the state, including Gov. Henry McMaster, Attorney General Alan Wilson, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and other members of South Carolina’s congressional delegation.
Trump, an early backer of Graham’s bid for a full, six-year U.S. Senate term, will also campaign with her in Clemson Wednesday. Trump also rallied with Graham ahead of the special Republican primary in Myrtle Beach.
Seven South Carolina sheriffs, including Jay Koon of Lexington County, endorsed Graham last week.
“We need strong leaders in Washington who know the difference between right and wrong when it comes to supporting law enforcement and making good decisions for the safety of you and your family,” Koon said during a press conference Oct. 14. “Certainly, since taking office, Sen. Darline Graham has done just that.”
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Andrews has tried to appeal to Republican and independent voters in her general election campaign for U.S. Senate, often emphasizing cost-of-living issues during campaign stops and in political ads. She has promised to work with Republicans in Congress and supported a Trump-backed policy that would eliminate income taxes on tips.
Andrews, who was called an anti-transgender slur on social media by Trump, also released an ad where she shot down Republican attacks on her stances on LGBTQ+ rights. Andrews said she doesn’t support “biological men” playing women’s sports or “gender surgery for minors” in the 30-second advertisement, which drew scrutiny from local LGBTQ+ organizations and Graham’s campaign, which accused her of flip-flopping on the issue.
While a Democratic candidate has not won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina since 1998, some political watchers think the race could be competitive this year. The Cook Political Report moved the race in favor of Andrews from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican” Tuesday. The rating means the race is now considered competitive by the national campaign watcher, though Graham is still favored.
Graham, the sister of the longtime, late lawmaker Lindsey Graham, is a newcomer who didn’t win her party’s nomination until August after a special primary. Andrews easily secured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in June and first launched her campaign in May 2025.
A new Trafalgar poll found Andrews trailing Graham by . About 59% of poll participants identified as Republicans. And, Andrew led fundraising in the third quarter of 2026, though the Democratic candidate had more time to raise and spend money this election cycle. Graham raised $2.4 million between two fundraising committees since her campaign kicked off, and Andrews raised more than $9 million in July through September, according to election fundraising records.
Graham’s bid is also bolstered by outside groups spending millions on advertising, including the super PAC Security is Strength and the Senate Leadership Fund.
Whether the late special Republican primary in August impacts Graham’s bid also remains to be seen. Graham defeated U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman by about five percentage points in a runoff, but the U.S. House Freedom Caucus-aligned congressman finished first in several Upstate counties. Trump will campaign in a county Wednesday where Norman won by about 16 points. Since the runoff, some social media users have encouraged Norman’s supporters to write in his name.
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