US Senate majority leader campaigns with Darline Graham in SC, saying GOP can’t ‘take any chances’

CHARLESTON — Following a fundraiser for her campaign, U.S. Sen. Darline Graham projected confidence while acknowledging a “close race” to keep the South Carolina seat her late brother held for almost 24 years.

Appearing beside her for reinforcements were South Carolina’s now-senior senator, Tim Scott, who chairs the fundraising committee for Senate Republicans, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota.

“It is going to be a close race, but I feel confident that we’re going to win,” Graham told reporters outside Hall’s Chophouse in downtown Charleston. “We’re going to hold the Republican seat here in South Carolina. That is so important.”

The fundraiser was held as polls show the Lexington Republican in a tighter-than-expected contest with Democrat Annie Andrews of Mount Pleasant. Two elections forecasters, Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball, have recently shifted the race from a solid to likely GOP win.

Andrews still faces an uphill battle but maybe not by much.

She’s trying to be the first Democrat to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since Fritz Hollings retired in January 2005, ending his 38-year tenure. South Carolinians tend to keep their senators. Lindsey Graham was on track to win a fifth term when he died unexpectedly in July, creating an entirely different contest.

His younger sister, Darline Graham, ultimately won the special GOP primary to be on the Nov. 3 ballot, aided by the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who rallied for her in Myrtle Beach ahead of the runoff. But even in a state he won by 18 percentage points two years ago, there are questions of whether the first-time candidate can keep the seat in the GOP column another six years.

On Friday, Thune called Graham “battle-tested” after emerging from a 10-way GOP scramble in August. But with Senate Republicans trying to hold onto a slim majority in the midterms, he’s not “leaving anything to chance,” he said.

“I’m going places where if people are interested in having me come in and help, I’ll do what I can to help the team,” Thune said about why he’s in a state that’s supposed to be ruby red. “This is a team effort. It’s a team sport, and Sen. Graham is an important part of our team.”

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Scott said South Carolina is not among the 10 toss-up states the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, which he leads, is focused on.

“We are not having to use outside resources in South Carolina,” said the Charleston County Republican.

His remarks came days after reports that the separate Senate Leadership Fund, a leading political action committee for Senate Republicans, is sending $5 million to assist Graham’s campaign.

It’s unclear how much cash the candidates have on hand. The next campaign filings are due later this month.

The visit by Thune followed backlash this week after Trump used a slur for transgender people in a social media post about Andrews. A group that backs Democrats, 314 Action, sent $3.6 million to Andrews’ campaign in response.

Graham’s campaign has drilled into Andrews’ past public advocacy for transgender youth, using her own social media posts to call Andrews a radical who’s switching her positions. Andrews’ campaign has pushed back, releasing an ad where she says she opposes transgender women and girls playing in women’s sports. She also says she opposes gender-transitioning surgeries for minors, though the accusations include her previous opposition to ending transitioning hormone treatments and puberty blockers.

Asked specifically about that earlier this week, Andrews’ campaign told the SC Daily Gazette the prohibitions in state law are not something she’s working to change.