South Carolina Senate Debate: Graham and Andrews Clash

What Happened at the South Carolina Senate Debate

Graham, Andrews and Libertarian nominee Kasie Whitener took part in the Oct. 11 event. The Hill reported that Whitener is a radio host and professor. The exchanges between the two major-party candidates quickly turned sharp, and ABC News said the topics ranged from Iran to the economy and artificial intelligence, with much of the night coming back to which candidate is less qualified.

The night also carried personal weight. NBC News reported that Graham opened by noting it had been exactly three months since the death of her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, at age 71. She was appointed to his seat and is now seeking a full six-year term.

Quick Summary

Graham called Andrews a radical liberal and defended President Donald Trump. Andrews questioned Graham’s readiness, courted independents and Republicans, and kept her criticism on policy rather than naming the president. The race is now rated “Likely Republican” by the Cook Political Report.

A Fight Over Who Is Ready for the Job

Andrews built much of her case around a moment from the Republican primary. During that earlier debate, Graham said she was not well informed on national security when asked about Taiwan, MS NOW noted. On Sunday, Andrews used a medical comparison, asking voters whether they would hand a scalpel to a surgeon who said appendectomies were not his specialty. She called Graham unserious and unqualified.

Graham responded that her earlier answer showed honesty with voters. She went on offense as well. CNN reported that her first answer described Andrews as the most radical liberal to run for state office in South Carolina. Graham also tied Andrews to the Democratic Socialists, a claim Andrews rejected.

The exchange over a last name

One of the most personal moments involved Graham’s name. Andrews said Graham had recently changed it, noting that her own name has stayed the same. Graham has also gone by Nordone, her husband’s surname, and CNN said she did not use it when she was appointed.

Graham called the remark a personal insult. She said her legal name has always been Graham, although she sometimes used her husband’s last name on social media, and she said she kept her maiden name to stay connected to her parents, whom she lost when she was young.

Iran, Trump and the Economy

The two candidates took opposite approaches to the president. Graham mentioned Trump only in positive terms, praising his economic record, including a recent diesel policy change meant to lower fuel costs. She blamed part of the high gas prices on green energy policy.

Andrews criticized his policies, including the Iran war, without using his name. She described Graham as the “White House’s ambassador to South Carolina” and said she would stand up to her own party when needed. The Post noted that Trump won the state by 18 points in 2024, which makes that balancing act difficult for a Democrat.

Graham defended the reasoning behind the war and said Democrats had raised the risk of a nuclear-armed Iran. She repeatedly pointed to a sanctions bill named for her late brother that she sponsored, saying it gives the president economic tools. Whether to use them, she said, is up to him.

Andrews Reaches for Independents and Republicans

Andrews opened with a direct message to independents who want change and to Republicans who feel left behind by their party. She also separated herself from the left wing of the Democratic Party on two major issues.

• Health care: After Graham accused her of backing government-run care for all, Andrews said she does not support Medicare for All. She favors a public option alongside private insurance.
• Immigration: She said Democrats have failed on the border and that she supports deporting people who break the law, as long as enforcement respects due process.

AI Data Centers and Business Ties to China

Andrews nicknamed Graham “Data Center Darline” and said she had accepted campaign money from artificial intelligence companies. Newsweek also covered the nickname. Graham said she supports community involvement in data center projects but opposes a federal moratorium, which she argued would help China in the AI race.

Andrews then raised Washington Post reporting on Graham’s husband, who holds management roles at two companies that rely on Chinese manufacturing. Graham said he is an employee, not an owner, and that the company buys toy guns from China. She accused Andrews of sinking low by bringing him up.

Why the Race Is Drawing Attention

South Carolina last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 1998, and the winner this year will be the first woman elected to the chamber from the state, according to the election overview. In September, the Cook Political Report moved the contest from “Solid” to “Likely” Republican.

Newsweek reported that the Senate Leadership Fund plans to spend $5 million to support Graham and that Trump is tentatively expected to campaign in the state. Recent polls show Graham with a narrow lead, MS NOW said. With the general election set for Nov. 3, both campaigns have only weeks left to make their case.

Frequently Asked Questions