♪ Gavin Jackson> Welcome to This Week in South Carolina.

I'm Gavin Jackson.

With less than two weeks before the general election, the seat to fill the late Senator Lindsey Graham has become more competitive than expected.

Cook Political Report has moved the race from likely Republican to lean Republican.

Tonight I sit down with the two leading candidates, Republican Darline Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews.

We start with Senator Graham, who asked why she wanted to fill the seat of her late brother.

Sen.

Graham> Yeah, well, it was kind of unexpected, but I think I was almost just overwhelmed with grief at that moment.

And I went in there to talk to him about some other things regarding Lindsey.

You know, he shared what close friends they were and things like that.

So, yeah, a little unexpected.

But I said, yes, of course, like I've said, but that's not the only reason I'm running.

I'm running because I've been working hard for the people of South Carolina for 30 years.

I'm very passionate about serving the people of South Carolina.

I've worked hard for them.

So I saw it as a way to continue doing what I was doing, just in a different capacity.

Plus, it would give me the opportunity to carry on some of Lindsey's legacy.

So yes, multiple reasons.

Gavin> Did you think it was going to be maybe easier or that fewer people were going to run, or did you expect it to be kind of what it's been like?

Sen.

Graham> That's a good question.

You know, I haven't really thought about that.

Yeah.

I knew people would run.

I knew from the get go that other people were interested, but and I've been around politics for a long time through Lindsey, of course.

So I know that it can get challenging and a little ugly and things like that.

But, I think what I didn't really anticipate is just the speed that everything's gone from the primary to the runoff two weeks later to the general.

It's just been a lot.

And everybody says that, this is just an absolute anomaly, that it's been this much, this fast.

People say well it's kind of like you were thrown into the deep end of the pool.

And I'm like, no, it's kind of like I was thrown into the deep end of the ocean with a hurricane coming.

So, yeah.

Gavin> Did your brother ever tell you maybe you should be in politics or give you any advice about if you were ever to get into this, or did you absorb just how he operated by just osmosis in a sense?

Sen.

Graham> I guess just osmosis, because I have never had any desire to be in politics whatsoever.

None, because I've seen, you know, how challenging it is for him and how much time it takes because he put his all into it.

I mean, everything.

He worked nonstop, constantly.

And I knew it was a lot.

Gavin> And a lot of people, you know, like you, because of your brother.

And a lot of people don't like you because of your brother, which is a tough gig.

I have two brothers, too, I get it, but are you, where are you different?

We've talked about this before, but just to clarify again, because you have been talking about it here and there, but where are you different, from the late Senator Lindsey Graham?

And where do you forge your own path from him now that you're almost four months in office?

Sen.

Graham> Right, right.

And you're right.

I've inherited some of the people who love him.

I think they love me.

And, those that did not like him don't like me without giving me an opportunity.

So, you know, there's advantages and disadvantages, you might say.

But I guess we're the same, that we're cut from the same cloth.

We both grew up in that one room in the back of the barn liquor store, where we watched our parents work long, hard hours to make ends meet.

We learned a strong work ethic and the value of a dollar, I always say.

So we had those same morals, the same values.

We're both very hard workers.

So we're very similar in that way.

Where we're different is he had a 30 year military background.

I have a work force background, you know, primarily working with people with disabilities.

So our career paths have gone a little different.

We're both kind of, you know, servants but just different focuses.

Gavin> But then policy wise, immigration, where else do you different from him in policy?

Sen.

Graham> I do.

I'm probably a little bit stronger on immigration.

I've said that, to me, it's very clear.

You know if you're here illegally, that's the key word for me because I'm a rule follower.

So if you're here illegally you've got to go.

Gavin> Does that include folks who are here like under D.A.C.A.

or who have worker status or, you know, have legal working status to be here?

Sen.

Graham> Well, you just said the key word, if you have legal working status, you're here legally.

So, you know, I'm okay with those temporary, you know, situations where they're here legally to work, but not illegal.

Gavin> Last night we were at the president's rally up in the upstate, and President Trump has called your opponent names.

You have called her, among other things, a liar, a radical and a fraud, who is prescribing bad medicine.

At the Trump rally, someone shouted that Annie Andrews hates America.

You said yes.

Do you believe she does hate America?

And should we be using such divisive rhetoric in this difficult environment of politics.

Sen.

Graham> It's a shame that politics have got to this.

I was just talking to someone.

It's like, you know, I can't imagine any good person really wanting to subject themselves to this because it is very, very difficult.

But what is really bothering me, why I wanted to have this press conference today because, you know, we can have differences.

It's okay to have differences, but don't lie and deceive people.

That's what really bothers me.

And that's what's going on here.

It's crystal clear to me because just, you know, a year or two three years ago, multiple years ago, she's got all kind of social media posts out there, quotes out there, videos that she put out there herself with one extreme view.

And now all of a sudden it's like.

"No, I'm a moderate."

You don't get to just change like that.

Isn't it convenient that you're running for office and now you've changed your view totally?

Gavin> But to that end, we, we know a lot of people do agree on affordability being a top issue with high prices, stubborn inflation, sluggish growth, wage growth I should say, especially with these high energy prices.

So how can voters trust you and Republicans with bringing down costs when they've only stayed elevated in some respects and actually increased over these past two years with Republican control?

Sen.

Graham> Right, right.

Well, you know, I've lived paycheck to paycheck for many years before, so I know what it feels like.

I know I go to the grocery store and I still look for the buy one, get one free bargains.

I buy most of my clothes at TJ Maxx.

So, I'm still a bargain shopper.

I know it hits people hard.

I know a lot of South Carolinians live paycheck to paycheck, and you know, a lot of it is tied to gas prices right now.

So obviously, when the war ends, hopefully soon, the gas prices will fall and we will be much safer for it.

In the meantime, I'm all for suspending any temporary gas, temporarily suspending any gas taxes.

I was really glad that President Trump eased the regulations on the red dye diesel to help farmers.

But I think the long term solutions are easing regulations on drilling and oil refineries.

One example is California.

Look at the price of gas in California.

It's almost $7 a gallon.

$2 over the national average because they shut down the oil refineries.

And under Annie Andrews, you know, she's funded by Jane Fonda's climate pack.

So she's not going to be for a oil refinery.

She's going to want regulations on oil refineries.

So under the Democrats, let's don't forget under Biden, the gas prices were high.

So under Democrats, are going to be permanently high.

It's not just going to be because of the war.

Gavin> But then what about also things like health insurance and affordability, there?

Because there's been concerns about that too.

What would your plan be for making health insurance affordable for folks who have maybe been kicked off Medicaid rolls or can no longer afford, you know, A.C.A.

health plans?

Sen.

Graham> Health care is a good one because I have two daughters, I've mentioned before who have significant health problems.

One has said brain surgery, spinal surgery, almost died with blood clots.

So I have racked up tons of medical debt.

I have been on the receiving end of bills, not giving the bills to patients.

So I know what it feels like.

And I know a lot of South Carolinians know what it feels like.

But I'm really concerned about Annie Andrews' health care for all, paid for by the government.

That's not going to work.

That's going to drive up the national debt by trillions of dollars, bankrupt our country, and the quality of the care is going to go down.

Look no further than Canada.

Everyone there, not everyone, but a lot of people are coming to our country to receive care because they're waiting forever to see a specialist or to get a procedure.

Now, some of the ideas I have is more about transparency, because if you go buy something, if you buy a car, if you buy anything, you shop around for the better bargain because you know the price, right?

So when you know the price that creates competition, drives down the costs.

So transparency and pricing is one way.

I've also co-sponsored a bill that, Rand Paul has sponsored that allows, self-employed people to come together as an association to buy, group insurance at group rates.

that's cheaper than normal rates.

Gavin> And Dr.

Andrews is for just a public option, not the Medicare for all option, too.

So that's just a differentiation.

I know sometimes they might get mixed in together, but we only have a few moments left, Senator Graham, I want to ask you about foreign policy issues.

It sounds like the president may be launching a strike against Iran after the November 3rd election.

This is based on reporting from NPR about U.S.

troops being massed in the region.

Should America continue this war, which is now going on nine months, especially when the president said he didn't want any new wars when he came into office?

Sen.

Graham> I haven't discussed that with the president.

I'm not sure if he's planning another strike or not.

But, you know, I do trust the president and the generals that advise him.

You know, I think everyone wants the war to end.

I know I do.

I think everyone does.

Well, the price of gas will come down and our country will be safer.

But, if he chooses that route, I'm sure that there is a good reason for it.

Gavin> And then we also spoke earlier this week about, one of your signature legislative accomplishments in your short time in office, which is, it got to the president's desk.

He signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 The president has decided not to implement these sanctions or tariff countries up by oil from Russia, which fuels this illegal war against Ukraine.

We spoke on Monday, like I said.

Tell us, did you have a chance to talk to the president about his decision to waive these?

...you did disagree with him.

You said that you would like to see him be tougher with Putin.

You don't trust Russia or Putin.

So did you have a chance to talk to him at the rally or on Air Force One about this?

And if so, what would you say to him about this?

Sen.

Graham> I did not get a chance to talk to him.

Obviously, at the rally, it's chaos there with thousands of people.

And on Air Force One, there was, you know, several other people.

And to me, that's more of a private conversation to ask him something like that.

But, you know, I stand by what I said.

Ultimately, we have the same goal, I think, like I said earlier, to end the war and bring the gas prices down.

But, you know, the bill gives him the flexibility to choose the route that he wants to choose, but ultimately, the goal is the same.

Would I have chosen that route?

No, because I don't trust Russia and I don't trust Putin.

And I think we need to keep the pressure on him.

>> Have you heard from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at all about this?

Sen.

Graham> I have not.

Gavin> Didn't know if he reached out to you or not?

But do you feel like that this may undercut everything that's going on with one of our Democratic allies in Ukraine with this deal?

Sen.

Graham> I hope we're not at that point yet.

I certainly hope not.

And I'm still very proud of the bill.

You know, I want to say that.

You know, working with my colleagues to get that across the finish line and that had a huge bipartisan effort.

So I'm still very proud of the bill and getting it, signed into law.

Gavin> And Senator Graham, with about a minute left, we know that there's been some fractures in the Republican Party because it was a very quick and contentious primary process with the runoff, etc.. But Cook Political Report has moved this race to lean Republican, which still means that you have the advantage, but it is more competitive.

So what do you make of this decision here?

And do you feel like you're closing the gap to really, you know, rejuvenate the base and maybe bring in some other folks to the fold?

Sen.

Graham> Right.

Well, it is a close race.

You know, the polls say that, and I don't take anything for granted.

I'm running every day like I'm behind whether I am or not.

And I'm working really hard to get across the state and meeting as many people as I can.

I want to hear from the voters, and I'm just going to continue doing that same thing until the very end.

Gavin> Twelve more days.

Sen.

Graham> Twelve more days.

Yes.

Gavin>Senator Darline Graham, thank you very much.

Appreciate it.

Sen.

Graham> Thank you.

Democratic nominee, Dr.

Annie Andrews held a meet and greet in Bamberg County this week, where we sat down with her and I also asked her why she is running.

>> I mean, to be totally frank, my three children, my kids, as you know, are in the public school system.

They're 14, 12 and almost ten.

And they are my why?

I took them to vote with me earlier this week, and I'm in this race for them and all the kids and families across South Carolina.

So it's really the two parallel paths I've had in my life.

Being a mom of three South Carolinian children and also being a pediatrician, working in the Children's Hospital in the Lowcountry for 15 years, and understanding that the problems my patients and families were facing were policy problems with policy solutions.

And as I started advocating for more child and family centered policies at the state level, I realized what I was saying was falling on deaf ears.

And then I quickly understood the lesson that to really catalyze change, you have to engage in politics on behalf of the issues you care about so that you can elect people who inherently care about the issues.

And here I am.

I could, you know, poised to become our nation's first ever pediatrician senator, and I'll be a voice for all South Carolinian, South Carolinian kids and families.

Gavin> And when you talk about that, you talk about being a doctor, that different background, we don't typically see in politics.

Is that something that you see, maybe not just here in South Carolina, but in other races across the country?

You're seeing religious leaders, you're seeing former military members, you're seeing people like yourself in professions.

Do you think that's maybe what Democrats need to start doing more of, to really break through to folks and make sense?

Because you can speak to that.

You see it on the front lines.

Dr.

Andrews> Yeah.

I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to fewer lawyers in the U.S.

Congress.

But I think what we're seeing happening is just like in my case, no one tapped on my shoulder and said, we would like a pediatrician to run for the Senate.

I saw what I saw.

I rolled up my sleeves and I got involved.

And I think that's what we're seeing all across the country with people with different professional backgrounds deciding that they've had enough, that they see how Washington, D.C.

is impacting their family, their community or their profession, and they decided to get involved.

So I don't think that's a Democratic Party thing.

I think that's a people who care about their communities wanting to get involved, just like I do.

And just like I did.

And I think the more we see that, people with different professional backgrounds running for office, I do think we're going to break through more because people are tired of the same old Washington career politicians.

They all sound the same.

They all use the same talking points and it's stale.

And more importantly, it's not helping the problems we have here in South Carolina or anywhere.

Gavin> When it comes to winning.

Should you get in there, should the Democrats flip the Senate, that you'd be a part of, how would you see yourself governing?

Does that mean they're going to vote straight with the party?

Are you going to back Chuck Schumer.

I mean, how would you maybe differentiate yourself?

Because I see you shaking your head.

I mean, then how do you tell voters, you know, I'm a little bit different?

How would you back that up?

Dr.

Andrews> Yeah.

Yeah, I'm a lot different.

I am an independent voice.

I plan to be an independent voice.

Again, because no one recruited me to be here.

No one is writing my scripts for me.

I'm here because I want to be here.

I'm not beholden to leaders in my political party or anyone in Washington, D.C.

I don't take corporate P.A.C.

money, so I'm not beholden to them.

I can be an independent voice because of those facts, and also because of the fact that I have a career that I already love, that I can fall back on.

When you have career politicians, so many of whom occupy U.S.

Senate seats right now, they, every vote they take, they're thinking about their own political survival or political expediency.

They're not always thinking about their constituents, first.

I will think about South Carolinians and vote for South Carolinians first and foremost, every single day.

I will be an independent voice.

My opponent is really the exact opposite of that, because she was, in fact, handpicked by Washington, D.C.

to sit in the seat currently to run for this six year term.

It has been very clear to me, in my observations of her is that she's saying what these special interest groups, like data center companies, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, her party bosses tell her to say, I don't know if she knows what she believes in.

I, on the other hand, know exactly what I stand for, what I believe in, who I'm fighting for, and that will never change.

And I'll be a brick wall between Washington D.C.

and South Carolina.

If the D.C.

political machine ever tries to take advantage of South Carolina, even if that means standing up to my own party.

Gavin> And to that end, we did hear from your opponent, they and some of her supporters, calling you a radical, talking about your history, especially when it comes to gender affirming care, gender affirming care for trans minors.

Can you clarify that record, especially after we saw that attack from the president, launching an anti-trans slur at you?

Clarify that for us because I think people have been getting confused about it.

And some of your supporters are even saying that you're maybe moderating your stance from where you were in the past.

Dr.

Andrews> So I want to start by saying that trans people are people.

And I don't think for my entire life I'll ever understand why my opponent chose to use so much time and energy during her incredibly short tenure as an interim U.S.

senator to demonize some of her constituents, but because she made that choice, I'm in this position where I do need to clarify where I stand.

I don't support gender surgery on minors.

Those procedures are illegal here.

They've never been done in South Carolina.

I've never performed those procedures.

I also don't support biological men playing in women sports.

I have seen what people have said, bringing up old tweets, because I did go to the State Capitol and advocate against that bill.

I advocated against that bill, as did former Republican Superintendent Molly Spearman, for the same reasons, because we already had a procedure in place at the school level to deal with this very small issue, and what the Republicans in Columbia were doing was just using these vulnerable children in their political games.

And if anyone looks at my record of advocacy for South Carolina kids and families, they will see that I am a fighter and that I will always stand up and fight for vulnerable people, particularly children, if they're being bullied.

The good news for South Carolinians is the vulnerable people in South Carolina right now are hardworking South Carolina families, folks who are watching their rural health clinics and hospitals closed, people who are struggling to fill up their gas tank or to pay for groceries.

And that's who I'm fighting for, with the same fierceness that I've brought to the State Capitol that I will take to Washington, D.C., I will fight every day for South Carolinians.

>> And I've been out there on the campaign trail with you, seeing you in multiple places across the state.

Some places, pretty red areas, but you're still trying to break through.

You have your supporters out there in these small pockets.

But what is your message?

What is your plan for affordability issues?

Because there's, there's so many facets to this problem right now.

How can they be addressed?

Can one single senator do that?- Dr.

Andrews> I mean, certainly not one single senator, but I will fight every day to lower costs here in South Carolina, in addition to stopping the Medicaid budget cuts.

That will be my number one priority.

You know, a few weeks ago, we were out on our Gas, Grits and Groceries Affordability tour.

We released a pretty comprehensive affordability plan.

I think some of the top lines, most important things are for gas prices, suspending the state and federal gas and diesel tax, finding our way out of this war with Iran, which is, of course, the direct reason we have record high gas and diesel prices.

You know, I was just on a farm just 45 minutes ago talking to farmers about how they're being crushed by the record high diesel prices.

I talked to a row crop farmer who said it costs $1,900 to fill her tractor's gas tank, and usually that gas will last a few days.

Also, their fertilizer prices are up 41%.

And that's because of a couple of things.

The war, in addition to the tariffs that are driving up inflation, making everything cost more.

So we have to stop the tariffs.

We need to suspend the gas and diesel tax.

We need to find our way out of this war with Iran.

We have a pretty comprehensive housing affordability plan on health care.

Number one, we need to stop the Medicaid budget cuts.

We need to allow the federal government to use their negotiating power to lower the cost of all prescription drugs.

We need to lower health insurance premiums.

And long term, to do that, we need to reduce the private insurance companies influence over that market, which is why I support a public option, which, unlike what my opponent said on the debate stage, that doesn't mean the government is paying for anyone's health care.

That means the customer, the American, can choose to purchase an affordable public plan from the government if that's what they want to do.

And by doing that, you remove that private insurance profit motivation from the transaction.

Gavin> How do you make that more affordable?

...we've seen the Affordable Care Act.

We've seen cuts to the Affordable Care Act, and those insurance premiums have gone up.

How can we make health care affordable in America?

Dr.

Andrews> By removing private insurance companies' influence over the market?

Because, you know, those A.C.A.

plans, of which I have one, are still run by private insurance companies who have profit motivation.

They have shareholders to please.

And that's so much of the money that we all pay in our premiums and our co-insurance and our co-payments and our deductibles.

All those things goes actually to pad the profits of insurance companies, not to the provision of health care.

So if you remove that, some of that influence over the entire market, then everything will cost less.

And we will see private insurance companies offer more comprehensive benefit plans at lower premium rates, because they're going to have to compete with the public option.

Gavin> You were talking about a big driver of affordability issues being these ongoing wars, these conflicts around the world, not just in Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz being in jeopardy, but also in Russia.

We've seen the president make some really interesting moves, some drastic moves, some, to the shock of many in Europe when it comes to how close he's getting to, Russian President Vladimir Putin when it comes to a potential diesel deal, which would only be about a drop in the bucket when it comes to how much diesel uses a country, lessening these sanctions, especially the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions bill that was passed into law, he signed into law.

That was a big, monumental issue for Senator Graham passing for her late brother.

Do you think that Trump is selling out Ukraine right now?

Do you think Senator Graham has the ability to stand up to someone like President Trump, who she is very closely aligned with?

What do you make of this deal with Ukraine and Russia?

Dr.

Andrews> Well, this, this deal with Russia is completely undermining the sanctions bill that my opponent has really claimed as her, you know, her number one legislative achievement.

And I think she was actually really proud to be able to do that in her brother's name.

And now she's been put in this position, you know, where what her brother probably would have done versus what has happened.

But what we know from undermining the sanctions bill is, you know, and through this diesel deal is we're now essentially helping Russia fund their war with our democratic ally in Ukraine.

You know, I've been unequivocally supportive of Ukraine.

We need to stand with our democratic allies in Ukraine.

We need to find our way out of this war with Iran.

We spent a lot of time on the debate stage going back and forth about the war.

There was only one person on that debate stage who's had an opportunity to vote to stop the war.

And of course, Senator Graham has voted to continue the war three times, despite the fact that she admitted national security isn't her thing.

But these decisions that are being made are not making us any more secure here at home.

And it's undermining our relationship with Ukraine.

And it's not, as you said, it's not going to do a lot to lower the cost of diesel.

So it's a difficult position she has found herself in.

But I very clearly stand with Ukraine, support Russia's sanctions and know we need to find our way out of this war so that we can end this record high diesel and gas prices.

Gavin> Just kind of wrapping up, Dr.

Andrews.

You know, your opponent and her supporters have called you a radical.

I don't want to get into a name calling contest.

But how would you label maybe her?

How do you see Senator Graham in this race, in this situation?

Dr.

Andrews> Well, since, you know, she's throwing these labels at me, you know, just today, we released our Republicans for Annie.

Just this afternoon, over 100 Republican leaders who are publicly supporting me because we're building a coalition that is meant to reach across the aisle.

We are building a coalition that is not just for Democrats who are feeling hopeful in this moment, but also for independents who are ready for change and for Republicans who feel left behind by their own party, Republicans like my own dad, and these 100 folks who have already signed on to support our campaign.

And you know, what I'm seeing from my opponent, unfortunately, is just sort of tired old Washington attack lines.

That does nothing to bring us together.

I believe that when I win this race on November 3rd, it's not a victory for one political party or a victory for me personally.

It's a victory for South Carolina because we will have returned the Senate seat to the people of South Carolina.

We will have shown the country that here in South Carolina, we figured out how to move forward together beyond this "hyper-divisive", "hyper-partisan" era of politics.

We'll have this opportunity to remind the country there's more that unites us than divides us, and then we'll have the opportunity as South Carolinians to start writing the next chapter in American democracy.

Name calling and reading attack lines from Washington, D.C.

are never going to bring us together in a way I know we need to and that we can.

And I look forward to being a part of that.

Gavin> And last question, Cook Political Report, just moved this race to lean Republican from likely Republican from solid Republican.

So, it keeps going more towards the center.

How do you read into that?

And again, talking about that coalition that you're building, is that really the pathway to winning in a state like South Carolina, which is strong Republican Donald Trump won this place by 18 points back in 2024.

Dr.

Andrews> Yeah.

So the Cook political shift reflects the energy we have here on the ground.

You know, I've been to every corner of the state many, many times.

And over the past several months we've watched as the enthusiasm grows, our crowd size grows.

I meet more and more Republicans.

I just met this young Republican mom a few hours ago who came up to me at the small event we had.

She had tears in her eyes.

She told me I was the first Democrat she was ever going to vote for, and she was just so proud of me, and she was so happy to see me fighting for South Carolina's children.

So the Cook Political Report is great.

I know people pay attention to that, but to me, I get to feel that energy every day on the campaign trail.

And for that reason, I think we're really going to surprise a lot of folks on November 3rd in a way that's really going to help South Carolina move forward together.

Gavin> Dr.

Annie Andrews, thank you so much.

Dr.

Andrews> Thank you.

Gavin> There are also two third party candidates on the ballot: Libertarian Casey Whitener and Constitution candidate Mark Hackett, Democrat Catherine Fleming-Bruce has declared as a write-in candidate.

To follow all of our election coverage, visit youtube.com/scetvnews.

For South Carolina ETV.

I'm Gavin Jackson.

Be well, South Carolina.

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