Politics
Bipartisan pair of ex-governors back Andrews in South Carolina Senate contest
Former Govs. David Beasley, a Republican, and Jim Hodges, a Democrat, endorsed Democrat Annie Andrews in a campaign video released Monday. They cast her candidacy as an alternative to political conflict as she challenges Sen. Darline Graham.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Former South Carolina governors David Beasley and Jim Hodges have endorsed Democrat Annie Andrews in the state’s U.S. Senate race, bringing bipartisan support from two former state leaders into a closely contested campaign.
The endorsements appeared in a video released by Andrews’ campaign on Monday, Oct. 26. Beasley, a Republican who served as governor from 1995 to 1999, said Andrews understood that leadership should focus on improving people’s lives rather than inflaming divisions.
“Annie understands that leadership isn’t about making people angrier,” Beasley said. “It’s about making things better.”
Hodges, a Democrat who served from 1999 to 2003 and was South Carolina’s most recent Democratic governor, said Andrews was “willing to put people ahead of politics.”
Beasley also emphasized that the two former governors came from different parties, but agreed the state deserved an alternative to continued political fighting.
Andrews is challenging Republican incumbent Sen. Darline Graham. Libertarian Kasie Whitener and Constitution Party candidate Mark Hackett are also running in the general election.
South Carolina’s early voting began Oct. 19, according to the state voting information linked in the campaign coverage. The former governors’ endorsement offers Andrews support beyond her party as voters consider the four-candidate Senate race.