Senate Candidates Will Debate in South Carolina

Three candidates are scheduled to face off in a televised debate this Sunday in the race for the U.S. Senate.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration depicting the interior of a legislative rotunda, representing the South Carolina Senate race. — Senate candidates Annie Andrews, Darline Graham, and Kasie Whitener will participate in a televised debate hosted by SCETV this Sunday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Democratic candidate Annie Andrews, Republican Darline Graham, and Libertarian Kasie Whitener will participate in a debate hosted by SCETV on Sunday, October 11. The event occurs as the candidates compete for the Senate seat left vacant following the death of Lindsey Graham in July.

Why it matters

The upcoming debate represents a pivotal moment for voters as the state prepares for the general election in November. The winner will secure the seat for a full term, moving beyond the current appointment held by Darline Graham.

A total of four candidates are running in the South Carolina U.S. Senate race, with three participating in this SCETV-hosted debate. The current Senate seat is held by appointment until the term expires in January 2027.

The players

Annie Andrews

She is the Democratic candidate campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina.

Darline Graham

She is the Republican candidate who was appointed to serve the remainder of the term following the death of the previous incumbent.

Kasie Whitener

She is the Libertarian candidate participating in the Senate race.

Mark Hackett

He is the Constitution Party candidate running in the Senate race who will not attend the debate.

SCETV

This is the state-owned public media organization hosting the upcoming Senate debate.

The details

The debate will be broadcast live via the SCETV YouTube channel, featuring Andrews, Graham, and Whitener. Constitution Party candidate Mark Hackett is not scheduled to participate in the event.

July 2026 marks the death of former Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The debate is scheduled for Sunday, October 11, at 7 p.m.
The general election is set to take place in November 2026.
The current term for the appointed Senate seat expires in January 2027.

Political Context

This election follows the precedent set by the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution regarding the filling of Senate vacancies. The contest highlights the transition from an appointed seat to a voter-selected representative for a full term.

This debate provides residents the opportunity to evaluate candidate positions before casting their ballots in the November election. The outcome will determine who occupies the Senate seat once the current appointed term concludes in early 2027.

The takeaway

Voters should prioritize reviewing the candidates' policy platforms presented during the broadcast to understand how each person intends to serve the state. Evaluating these positions is essential given that the election will determine representation in the U.S. Senate for the next full term.