Graham accepts debate with Andrews after challenger pushes for more

Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) announced Friday she plans to debate her Democratic challenger in South Carolina’s Senate race, pediatrician Annie Andrews, ahead of November’s elections.

“I’m in,” Graham wrote in a social media post . “On October 11, I will take the debate stage and expose Annie Andrews’ radical positions she’s spent the last year hiding from South Carolina families.”

“This is your seat, South Carolina, and it will be my honor to show you why I am ready to continue serving you and representing our conservative values in Washington,” she continued.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) tapped Graham to fill out the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate term after his death in July . President Trump quickly backed the late senator’s sister for a full term.

In the state’s Republican primary runoff in August, Graham beat Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) to become the GOP’s nominee in this race.

The Oct. 11 event, hosted by local public broadcaster SCETV, will mark Graham’s first public debate since her primary face-off with Norman last month. The appearance caused some to doubt the incumbent’s qualifications after she flubbed a national security question about Taiwan and the South China Sea.

“I’m just going to be honest here … I’m not that informed on national security,” Graham responded, before adding, “But I do support the military.”

Andrews, who has repeatedly challenged the Republican nominee to participate in a debate, responded to Graham’s announcement on Friday evening.

“Darline’s primary debate performance left voters with serious questions about whether she is prepared for this job,” the Democrat said in a statement shared on social media.

“Voters deserve to see us side by side and judge for themselves,” she continued. “I’m eager to finally see Darline on the campaign trail and show South Carolinians exactly why I’m the best person to fight for them in the United States Senate.”

Andrews previously launched an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House in 2022. The Cook Political Report , a nonpartisan election forecaster, rates South Carolina’s Senate race as “Solid Republican.” The state’s voters supported Trump in the past three presidential elections.