Trump Returns to South Carolina to Bolster Darline Graham Before Vote
The president visited the state again this week to rally support for the Senate nominee who faces a competitive challenge from Democrat Annie Andrews.
By Jason Cooper ·
President Donald Trump returned to South Carolina on Thursday for the second time in a month to campaign for Darline Graham, the Republican nominee in a tight U.S. Senate race. The visit aimed to energize the party base ahead of Tuesday’s election, where Graham is attempting to secure a six-year term.
Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was appointed to the seat in July by Governor Henry McMaster following her brother’s sudden death. She became the party’s nominee in August. Trump praised her lineage during the event, stating, “He was a great politician,” and adding, “She's got the gene.”
Graham commended the president for “delivered what Washington promised for decades” while warning that her opponent, Annie Andrews, “would just throw it all away.” Andrews, a pediatrician who previously ran for Congress, is urging voters to “try something new for once.” She has positioned herself as a fresh option in a state that has not sent a Democrat to the Senate in nearly three decades.
The race has drawn attention from voters questioning the stability of the seat within one family. Benjamin Updegraft, a 32-year-old software engineer, expressed frustration that the position 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.”
Brent Chaplin, a 37-year-old finance and accounting professional, identified as a registered Republican who is leaning toward Andrews. Chaplin, who voted for Trump in 2016, said he is finding it difficult to support the current party direction. “You just can't go and say I'm a Republican, I'm just going to vote Republican,” Chaplin said. He encouraged voters to use their judgment and send a message to party leaders to select different candidates.
Andrews held a rally in Fort Mill on Wednesday. She told the crowd that if she wins and fails to meet expectations, “you can fire me in six years.” She promised, “I won’t let you down, that I’m going to win you all over.”
South Carolina voters will cast ballots on Tuesday to determine the next occupant of the U.S. Senate seat.
Source: MySA
