Columbia, S.C. — The two most prominent contenders for South Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat will face each other on a debate stage Oct. 11, the incumbent announced Friday, setting up a major campaign moment ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.
Debate details and format
The debate will be hosted by SCETV. Republican Sen. Darline Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews have both agreed to take part in the forum, offering voters a direct comparison of their records and priorities in the final weeks of the campaign.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Oct. 11 |
| Host | SCETV |
| Candidates | Darline Graham (R), Annie Andrews (D) |
| Election | Nov. 3, 2026 midterm |
What the candidates say
Graham, who was appointed earlier this year to the seat previously held by her brother, said she will use the debate to press her conservative record and contrast it with what she described as Andrews’ more liberal positions.
"I'm in. 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."
Andrews, a pediatrician and public-health advocate from Charleston, has framed her campaign around health care, economic concerns and protecting working families. She has said she entered the race to challenge entrenched Washington politics she contends harm everyday South Carolinians.
Campaign context
The matchup comes after Graham won the Republican nomination in a runoff against U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman. She was appointed earlier this year to fill the vacancy left by her late brother and is now seeking a full term. Andrews emerged as the leading Democratic contender with a background in medicine and public health advocacy.
With a single scheduled debate announced publicly so far, the Oct. 11 forum will likely be one of the few opportunities for side-by-side scrutiny of both candidates’ plans on matters such as health care, the economy and national priorities. For many voters, the event will be a key source of information as they make final decisions before Election Day.
Why this matters to South Carolina voters
U.S. Senate races shape the balance of power in Washington and influence federal policy on issues that directly affect South Carolina, including Medicare and Medicaid funding, disaster recovery assistance and agricultural and military-related programs important to the state’s economy.
The debate gives candidates a platform to explain how they would approach federal policymaking and represent South Carolina’s interests in the Senate. It also provides a public record of their positions and responses on pressing topics, which voters and local media can review in the weeks ahead.
How voters can prepare
Voters should note the debate date and watch for broadcast or streaming details from SCETV. In the run-up to the forum, residents can:
- Review both campaigns’ websites and published policy statements for issue-specific positions.
- Check local election office pages for absentee and early voting deadlines ahead of Nov. 3.
- Note the debate date, Oct. 11, and monitor SCETV announcements for viewing information.
With less than a month before the midterm, the Oct. 11 debate is likely to draw intense attention from voters, party organizations and local media. The forum will test each candidate’s ability to make their case directly to South Carolinians ahead of Election Day.
Adrienne Calhoun, State Correspondent
