Graham, Andrews Spar Over Iran War and AI in Tight South Carolina Senate Race
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Oct 12
Graham, Andrews Spar Over Iran War and AI in Tight South Carolina Senate Race
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Oct 12
Summary
South Carolina’s first and possibly only general-election debate turned sharply on gas prices, Trump’s agenda and AI data centers as Republican Sen. Darline Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews fought over who would put the state first.
Andrews tied record-high fuel costs to Trump’s war with Iran and said Graham voted 3 times against a war-powers resolution, while Graham defended a “peace through strength” approach and backed suspending the gas tax.
AI infrastructure became another flashpoint: Andrews proposed a 2-year moratorium on data centers and stronger local control, while Graham warned a pause would let China pull ahead and pointed to a ratepayer-protection bill.
The race has tightened in deeply Republican South Carolina, where Graham was appointed after Lindsey Graham’s July death and where a top GOP super PAC has pledged $5 million to bolster her campaign.
The winner of the 6-year term would become South Carolina’s first woman elected to the U.S. Senate.