Former South Carolina Governors David Beasley, a Republican, and Jim Hodges, a Democrat, released a joint endorsement video supporting Annie Andrews, a pediatrician seeking to challenge incumbent Senator Darline Graham. The two former executives, who previously competed against each other politically, stated that Andrews represents a departure from divisive political rhetoric and represents a commitment to placing constituent interests above partisan considerations.
Beasley and Hodges acknowledged their historical political disagreements while emphasizing common ground in their support for Andrews. In their endorsement, Beasley cited what he characterized as excessive political division, while Hodges praised Andrews’s leadership approach. Beasley recently published an opinion piece expressing concerns about the current state of the Republican Party, describing what he viewed as the party’s departure from its historical values and citing what he characterized as divisive tactics and lack of civility from party leadership.
The race has drawn national attention as Graham, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump and is the sister of late Senator Lindsey Graham, faces stronger-than-expected opposition. Recent polling shows Graham maintaining an advantage, though the Cook Political Report has shifted its assessment of the seat from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican,” suggesting a tightening race. The endorsement adds to a broader pattern in this election cycle where prominent Republicans have crossed party lines to support Democratic candidates in multiple states, including Kansas, Texas, Georgia, Montana, Florida, Virginia, Illinois and South Dakota.
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