Graham and Andrews Clash Over Iran War and AI in South Carolina

Republican Sen. Darline Graham and Democratic challenger Dr. Annie Andrews confronted each other over the Iran war, rising living costs, Social Security and artificial intelligence infrastructure during a televised debate in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday, October 11. The exchange highlighted the stakes of a Senate contest that has become unexpectedly competitive in a state President Donald Trump carried by more than 17 percentage points in 2024.

Graham, appointed to succeed her brother Lindsey Graham after his death in July, is seeking a full six-year term. Andrews, a pediatrician, is attempting to win a Senate seat for Democrats in a state where the party has struggled electorally. Libertarian candidate Kasie Whitener also participated in the debate, which was hosted by South Carolina ETV.

The national Republican Senate super PAC has pledged $5 million to support Graham's campaign. The Cook Political Report recently changed its assessment of the race from solidly Republican to likely Republican, reflecting the closer contest.

Graham sought to portray Andrews as aligned with the Democratic Party's left wing, while Andrews argued that the incumbent was too closely tied to Trump and political insiders. Graham described Andrews as the most radical liberal to seek state office in South Carolina and accused her of failing to challenge socialist Democrats.

Andrews rejected that characterization and emphasized her independence from national party politics.

"She’s been told to come out here and call me Bernie, Ocasio, Mamdani — that’s what’s in her script. But the truth is my name is Annie Andrews, and there shouldn’t be any confusion about that," Andrews said. "The truth is I support the Second Amendment, I believe we need a secure border, and we need to deport illegal immigrants who break the law. ...

The real difference between me and Sen. Graham is that I will stand up to my own party, and I will always put South Carolina first."

Andrews also challenged Graham's qualifications for the Senate, revisiting an earlier debate in which Graham acknowledged limited familiarity with national security issues. The remark had drawn attention during the Republican primary campaign.

"South Carolina, if your surgeon said that appendectomies aren’t really his thing, would you still hand him a scalpel? No," Andrews said. "So why would we hand Darline Graham a full term in the U.S.

Senate? She is unserious and unqualified."

Graham defended her approach, saying she was willing to acknowledge when she lacked knowledge of a subject. She accused Andrews of changing her positions and misleading voters, while also criticizing the Democrat's opposition to Trump's major tax and spending legislation.

On Social Security, Andrews proposed raising the income cap on payroll taxes so wealthier Americans would contribute more. She opposed increasing the retirement age and warned that Republican policies could expose the program to privatization. Graham countered that Social Security benefits had helped support her and her brother after their parents died when they were young.

The candidates also disagreed over fuel costs and the conflict involving Iran. Graham acknowledged that gasoline prices were high and proposed suspending the gas tax and easing restrictions on domestic drilling. Andrews blamed the conflict for higher fuel and diesel costs, arguing that rising energy expenses were hurting farmers and increasing costs throughout the economy.

Andrews criticized Graham for voting three times against resolutions intended to restrict Trump's war powers regarding Iran.

"The war is the exact reason we now have record-high gas and diesel prices. Farmers are getting crushed, and everything costs more," Andrews said. "My opponent is the only one who had the opportunity to vote to end the war, but three times in a row she voted to continue it."

Graham said she wanted the conflict to end but supported a strategy of maintaining military strength to secure peace. The debate also touched on claims about Iran's nuclear capabilities, with CNN reporting that some of Graham's assertions about Iran nearing a nuclear weapon before US and Israeli military action earlier in the year did not appear accurate.

Artificial intelligence infrastructure emerged as another major point of disagreement. Andrews proposed a two-year pause on new data center development, protections against electricity rate increases and greater local control over construction decisions. She criticized Graham's support for data center expansion and used the nickname Data Center Darline.

Graham argued that halting construction would weaken the United States in its competition with China for AI leadership. She cited her vote for the Ratepayer Protection Act, which aims to shift electricity costs associated with data centers away from ordinary consumers and onto AI companies. Both candidates said local communities should have a role in decisions, but they differed over the appropriate limits of federal intervention.

The debate was the first televised general-election faceoff between Graham and Andrews and was described by CNN as the only debate currently scheduled in the race. Graham avoided another major public misstep, although her experience and command of policy remained central targets of Andrews' campaign.