A campaign video released Monday has two former South Carolina governors endorsing Democrat Annie Andrews for U.S. Senate: Republican David Beasley and Democrat Jim Hodges.
Beasley: “Over the years, the two of us haven’t always agreed on everything.”
Both men: “We may have served as your governor from different political parties, but we agree…”
Beasley: “Annie understands that leadership isn’t about making people angrier.”
[NOTE: Hodges beat Beasley in 1998.]
This is what putting South Carolina first looks like.
I’m honored to have the support of two former governors — Republican David Beasley and Democrat Jim Hodges.
We may not agree on everything, but we share a belief that matters most: South Carolina deserves leaders who will always put its people first.
— Dr. Annie Andrews (@AnnieAndrewsMD) October 26, 2026
[NOTE: Andrews, a pediatrician, faces Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed to the seat held by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. The last InsiderAdvantage poll, Sept. 28-29, had Graham 46%, Andrews 45%.]
Within hours of the video release, Republicans criticized Beasley, including conservative commentator T.W. Arrighi, who wrote: “Three Governors in South Carolina history have lost their reelection bid. Two of them are featured in Annie Andrews’ new ad: Govs. David Beasley and Jim Hodges.”
Arrighi added: “Gov. Beasley is no longer a Republican, and even voted in the Democrat primary this summer! Not a huge surprise.”
[NOTE: Beasley, who switched from Democrat to Republican in 1991, recently told PBS NewsHour that he had been elected seven times as a Democrat and once as a Republican. Asked whether he had formally left the GOP, he said his criticism was “not meant to be a party switch thing.”]
A pro-Graham account, “Myrna X,” responded: “Annie Andrews’ new ad features David Beasley to attack Republicans. The same Beasley who left the GOP, voted in the Democratic primary this year, and ran for office seven times as a Dem. That’s not a gotcha. That’s a confession. Vote Darline Graham.”
Annie Andrews’ new ad features David Beasley to attack Republicans. The same Beasley who left the GOP, voted in the Democratic primary this year, and ran for office seven times as a Democrat.
That’s not a gotcha. That’s a confession.
Vote Darline Graham.
https://t.co/kycet7iB3q
— Myrna 𝕏 (@GigaBeers) October 27, 2026
The endorsement lands in a race that has both candidates accusing each other of lying.
At a Columbia news conference last Thursday, Graham said: “Dr. Annie Andrews lied straight to our faces in an ad.” She added, “Her campaign ads, her mailers, and her statements are filled with lies.”
And: “Her radical views on transgender procedures is why she hasn’t practiced medicine in South Carolina for years.”
Her challenge to Andrews: “So, what I say is just own it, Annie.”
Andrews answered at a York County stop: “I don’t support gender surgery on minors.”
She said the attacks were about something else: “They’re talking about these culture war issues that are actually not in line with my positions.”
Andrews’ campaign went further in a statement: “Darline Graham is lying about Annie.”
Andrews has also gone after Graham’s reliance on outside help. At a Union town hall, ahead of President Donald Trump’s rally for Graham in Clemson, she said: “My opponent needs the highest level of federal government politicians to speak for her.”
She said Graham was “reading the scripts that were written by the same Washington insiders.”
Of Trump’s visit, Andrews said: “President Trump is always welcome in South Carolina, and I hope he hears directly from the families, farmers, and workers.”
She added: “But Senator Graham must do more than play politics. She needs to fight for South Carolina.”