Early voting began Monday across South Carolina, and for the first time in a generation the U.S. Senate race is being treated as a genuine contest. Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews, a Lowcountry pediatrician, reported raising $9.4 million in the third quarter, more than five times the amount Republican Sen. Darline Graham collected in the same period.
Fundraising Landscape
Andrews entered the race in May 2025 to challenge then‑incumbent Lindsey Graham. After Graham’s sudden death in July, Gov. Henry McMaster appointed his sister, Darline Graham, who won the Republican nomination in an August runoff. Andrews’ campaign now shows $2.3 million on hand as of Sept. 30, while Graham’s campaign reports just under $610,000.
Outside groups have added roughly $3.37 million to Andrews’ side, according to VoteLog’s tracker of Federal Election Commission filings. By contrast, the Senate Leadership Fund, the leading Republican super‑PAC, committed $5 million to South Carolina this month, primarily for television ads reminding voters of Andrews’ Democratic affiliation.
Spending Totals
The Post and Courier’s accounting shows the Republican side outspent Andrews by about $3 million in the closing weeks, when super‑PAC dollars are factored in. While a dollar from Andrews’ own campaign buys the lowest broadcast rates, a super‑PAC dollar often pays higher rates, giving the GOP a cost advantage in the Myrtle Beach‑Florence market.
Polling and Forecasts
A Trafalgar Group survey released on the first day of early voting shows Graham at 49 percent, Andrews at 46 percent, with third‑party candidates at 5 percent. Rasmussen Reports and InsiderAdvantage have produced similar margins, and the RealClearPolling average currently lists Graham ahead by two points.
Nevertheless, forecasters remain cautious. Inside Elections moved the race to “Lean Republican,” and the Poliwave model rates it “Likely Republican,” projecting a Graham margin of roughly nine points. Modelers cite President Trump’s 18‑point win in South Carolina in 2024 as a key factor, expecting late‑deciding voters to follow his lead.
Local Dynamics
Horry County, where President Trump captured nearly 69 percent of the vote in 2024, remains a tough hurdle for Andrews. The county’s 2024 turnout was about 206 000 voters, with a 38.5‑point Republican margin. Even a modest reduction in that margin would translate to only a few thousand votes statewide, underscoring the importance of broader statewide appeal.
Andrews’ campaign focuses on everyday concerns—suspending the gas tax, tackling insurance costs, and cutting taxes—while President Trump has taken to social media to criticize her, even running ads that highlight transgender issues. The GOP strategy is to nationalize the race, reminding voters that a Democrat is unlikely to win in South Carolina, whereas Andrews seeks to localize the contest around household costs.
What Voters Should Watch
Two poll details merit attention: younger voters under 50 have shown a tilt toward Andrews in earlier surveys, but turnout among that group will determine its impact. Also, third‑party candidates collectively hold 5 percent, a figure larger than the current gap between the two major candidates; any shift away from the Libertarian candidate could benefit Graham more than Andrews.
As early voting continues, South Carolinians should weigh both the fundraising advantage Andrews enjoys and the broader Republican spending edge, along with the state’s historic preference for Republican Senate representation.
Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.
