US Senate Republican candidate Darline Graham speaks with moderators before a debate with US Senate candidates Democrat Annie Andrews and Libertarian Kasie Whitener in Columbia, South Carolina, US, October 11, 2026. REUTERS/Sam Wolfe
A former Republican governor of South Carolina is backing the Democrat in the state’s U.S. Senate race, teaming up with the Democrat who ousted him from office nearly three decades ago.
Former Gov. David Beasley, a Republican, and former Gov. Jim Hodges, a Democrat, jointly endorsed Democrat Annie Andrews on Monday in a video released by her campaign. Andrews is challenging Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed to the seat after the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The two men were once political rivals, as Hodges unseated Beasley in the 1998 governor’s race. Beasley later led the United Nations World Food Programme, which won the Nobel Peace Prize during his tenure.
“We may have served as your governor from different political parties. But we agree South Carolina deserves better than more of the same political fighting,” Beasley said in the video.
Beasley said the country “is too divided, and the political rhetoric has gotten way, way out of hand,” and that Andrews “understands that leadership isn’t about making people angrier.” Hodges said Andrews is “willing to put people ahead of politics.”
The stinging endorsement is the latest in a string of Republican nods for Andrews, a pediatrician. Her campaign boasted that more than 100 Republicans have joined its “Republicans for Annie” coalition, and that Warren Norman, the son of Republican Rep. Ralph Norman, has said Andrews will be the first Democrat he has ever voted for. Ralph Norman lost a GOP primary runoff to Graham in August.
“Whether you voted for Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham, or anyone else, if you care more about lowering your bills than the political games in Washington, this campaign is for you,” Andrews said in a statement.
A Trafalgar Group poll conducted in September found Graham at 43.4% and Andrews at 42.3%, within the margin of error. Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate race in South Carolina since 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