Democrat Annie Andrews is outspending and outraising Republican Sen. Darline Graham in the South Carolina U.S. Senate race, even as Graham remains the favorite in a historically Republican state.
Democratic spending in the race leads Republicans by several hundred thousand dollars — about $5.1 million to $4.9 million spent — with much of the Andrews push focused on the Upstate. Before the Sept. 30 campaign finance deadline, Graham had about a quarter-million dollars left in cash on hand, her campaign attributing fundraising challenges in part to the bruising primary.
Andrews has kept a heavy travel and television schedule while Graham balances Senate duties in Washington. Federal filings show the Andrews campaign had already spent more than $1.6 million on media production and advertising as of the June 30 disclosure period, and her first general-election ad aired Aug. 26.
The candidates are scheduled to debate Oct. 11 in Columbia. Early voting runs Oct. 19-31 ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
