USA11 October, 20263 min read
Darline Graham And Annie Andrews Spar In South Carolina Senate Debate Over Iran, Trump, And AI
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Graham and Andrews debated in the first and likely only South Carolina Senate debate. They clashed over Iran war, AI data centers, and Trump’s policies.
8 outlets told this the same way.
Debate in Columbia
Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., and Democratic nominee Annie Andrews took their campaign trail sniping to the debate stage Sunday night in Columbia, S.C., as they argued over who was less qualified for the South Carolina Senate seat.
The debate aired as the race appeared unexpectedly close in the weeks ahead of the midterms, with the issues bouncing from Iran to the economy and artificial intelligence.
Graham and Andrews clashed over President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill,” the high costs of gas and goods, and the Iran war, while the debate also featured Libertarian Kasie Whitener.
Graham noted Sunday night marked exactly three months since her brother unexpectedly died at age 71, and Andrews sought to portray Graham as an inexperienced empty suit who refuses to stand up to Trump or his unpopular policies.
The candidates also sparred over AI, with Andrews saying Graham applauded Trump’s creation of an AI task force and Graham replying, “I’m just as qualified as you,” to Andrews, who has not been elected to office before.
Iran, qualifications, AI
Andrews attacked Graham over national security, quoting Graham’s earlier admission, “National security is not my thing,” and Andrews asked, “So why would we hand Darline Graham a full term in the U.S. Senate? She is unserious and unqualified.”
Graham responded by saying she wants the war to end, like everyone does, and she said she believes in “peace through strength,” while she also accused Andrews of “deceiving the people of South Carolina” and “flip-flopped on everything.”
Andrews tied the Iran war to affordability, saying, “The war is the exact reason we now have record-high gas and diesel prices,” and she argued Graham had voted several times against a war powers resolution to restrict Trump’s war with Iran.
Graham countered by saying the war was started “under Democrats, with Iran almost having a nuclear weapon,” and she accused Andrews of alignment with activist climate organizations, repeatedly mentioning Jane Fonda’s “Climate PAC,” in particular.
The debate also turned to data centers and AI infrastructure, with Andrews calling for a two-year moratorium on data centers and Graham arguing she supported local involvement and co-sponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act.
Money, history, stakes
Outside groups poured millions of dollars into the race on Graham’s behalf, and the top Senate Republican super PAC pledged to spend $5 million to shore up Graham’s campaign.
Graham’s campaign also drew attention to her appointment after Lindsey Graham’s sudden death in July, while Andrews argued the race is tight enough for Democrats to retake control of Congress as Trump’s popularity remains low.
The debate took place as the winner of next month’s general election will fill the seat previously held by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, and early voting in South Carolina runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 31.
MS NOW reported that Senate Leadership Fund was funneling $5 million into the race, and it also said Trafalgar Group released a September survey showing Graham ahead of Andrews by one percentage point, 46% to 45%, with 4% undecided.
The New York Times framed the contest as a close Senate race in a conservative state, noting Ms. Graham was appointed to her seat over the summer after the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham, and that Cook Political Report shifted the race from solidly Republican to likely Republican.