Trump Returns to South Carolina to Prop Up Struggling Senate Candidate
The president's second visit in a month signals GOP concern over Darline Graham's tight race against Democrat Annie Andrews.
By Samir Doyle ·
President Donald Trump returned to South Carolina on Thursday, marking his second visit to the state in one month. The trip underscores growing anxiety within the Republican Party regarding the viability of Senate candidate Darline Graham. She faces a strong challenge from Democrat Annie Andrews in a race for a critical Senate seat.
South Carolina has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in nearly 30 years. However, Andrews, a pediatrician who previously sought a congressional seat, is urging voters to "try something new for once." Her message targets a electorate frustrated with the economy, gas prices, and the war in Iran. These issues have placed the Republican Party on the defensive in a state where it has rarely faced competitive contests in recent years.
Graham was appointed to the seat in July by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster following the sudden death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. She became the party nominee in August for a full six-year term. During his speech, Trump praised Lindsey Graham as a "great politician." He then promoted his sister, stating, "She’s got the gene." Trump acknowledged that he pressed her to run when other Republicans were seeking the seat. "I got you into this thing, Darline," he said.
Graham, speaking before the president, commended Trump for delivering on long-standing Washington promises. She warned that Andrews "would just throw it all away." Andrews, who held a campaign event in Fort Mill on Wednesday, told voters they could fire her in six years if they were unhappy with her performance. "I promise that I won’t let you down, that I’m going to win you all over," she said.
The race may hinge on disaffected Republicans. Brent Chaplin, a 37-year-old finance and accounting professional, registered as a Republican but found it difficult to support the party this year. He voted for Andrews and encouraged voters to look beyond partisan labels. "You just can’t go and say I’m a Republican, I’m just going to vote Republican," Chaplin said. He noted he voted for Trump in 2016 but felt voters needed to apply more thought to their choices.
Benjamin Updegraft, a 32-year-old software engineer, expressed frustration that the seat might remain in the Graham family. "The Senate is not an inherited position," he said. "This is not a country where these noble titles are passed down between families."
While in South Carolina, Trump also addressed races in North Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Minnesota, and Alaska. He focused heavily on Alaska after a report suggested the Democratic campaign was recruiting a candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. Trump called the situation a "conspiracy" and demanded that Democrat Mary Peltola be removed from the ballot. Peltola suggested the report was a distraction from Sullivan's support for the war in Iran.
A rally scheduled for Saturday in Kansas was converted into a virtual tele-rally to help GOP Sen. Roger Marshall against Democrat Adam Hamilton. Trump plans to hold tele-rallies in 24 states, including Texas, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, in the coming days.
