Politics · October 26, 2026
Republican and Democratic ex-governors issue rare joint endorsement for South Carolina Senate candidate – US politics live
In an unexpected development for the South Carolina Senate race, former Republican Governor David Beasley and former Democratic Governor Jim Hodges have issued a rare joint endorsement for Democratic candidate Annie Andrews. The two former political rivals, who ran against each other in 1998, released a campaign video emphasizing the need to reduce political division and rhetoric. Andrews is seeking to flip the seat currently held by Republican Senator Darline Graham, who assumed office following the death of Lindsey Graham. While mainstream and center-leaning outlets focused on the bipartisan endorsement and polling showing a competitive race, right-leaning outlets highlighted Andrews' professional history in gun-control advocacy and broader concerns regarding the Democratic Party's ideological direction.
Read the original coverage
- The HillMBFC: Least Biased
Bipartisan pair of former South Carolina governors endorse Andrews for Senate
Read at The Hill ↗ - The GuardianMBFC: Left-Center
Ex-South Carolina governors endorse Democrat Annie Andrews in Senate race
Read at The Guardian ↗ - NewsweekMBFC: Right-Center
Annie Andrews gets GOP boost in bid to defeat Darline Graham
Read at Newsweek ↗
Reported across the spectrum
- Former Republican Governor David Beasley and former Democratic Governor Jim Hodges issued a joint endorsement for Annie Andrews.
- Annie Andrews is a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina.
- Darline Graham is the Republican incumbent in the South Carolina Senate race.
- David Beasley and Jim Hodges appeared together in a campaign video for Andrews.
- Jim Hodges defeated David Beasley in the 1998 South Carolina gubernatorial election.
Reported by only some outlets
- Darline Graham was endorsed by President Donald Trump.
- Annie Andrews is a pediatrician.
- Polling shows Andrews within a few percentage points of Graham.
- Annie Andrews earned $130,631 from Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund.
- Andrews resigned from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2023.
- Darline Graham is the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
- The joint endorsement video was released on Monday.
Left-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
emphasize the 'rare' and 'unexpected' nature of the bipartisan support in a 'reliably red state' and highlight Andrews' background as a pediatrician to frame her as a healer in a divided political climate.
Right-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
scrutinize Andrews' professional background by portraying her as a 'left-wing political advocate' whose primary income comes from 'anti-gun' organizations rather than medical practice.
Centrist outlets tend to focus on…
focus on the strategic significance of the crossover endorsement and the 'closing stretch' of a race that polling suggests is tighter than typically expected for South Carolina.
Where coverage diverges
Coverage diverges along left/right lines — see Framing tab for specifics.
About these outlets
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