Cook Political Report shifts South Carolina to Lean Republican

Former South Carolina governors David Beasley, a Republican, and Jim Hodges, a Democrat, jointly endorsed Democrat Annie Andrews for the U.S. Senate in a joint endorsement video. Andrews, a pediatrician, is trying to flip the seat held by Republican Darline Graham, who is the sister of the late senator Lindsey Graham and the candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The Guardian reported that the race had become unexpectedly competitive in the usually reliably Republican state. Recent polling indicated that Graham still held a lead over Andrews. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report, however, moved South Carolina in the Democrats’ direction from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican.”

The published photograph shows Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews at a town hall campaign event on 21 October in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The photograph is credited to Win McNamee/Getty Images.

Governors find common ground despite political differences

In the joint video, Beasley and Hodges tied their support to political division and the state’s interests. Beasley said, “This country is too divided, and the political rhetoric has gotten way, way out of hand,” and Hodges said, “That’s why we’re coming together to support Annie Andrews.”

The former governors said they did not agree on everything, but they agreed on Andrews as the best candidate to put South Carolina first. Beasley said, “Annie understands that leadership isn’t about making people angrier. Well, it’s about making things better,” and Hodges added, “She’s willing to put people ahead of politics.”

Beasley also said, “We may have served as your governor from different political parties. But we agree South Carolina deserves better than more of the same political fighting.”

Beasley’s political history and criticism of Trump

Beasley, a Democrat-turned-Republican, served as governor of the Palmetto State from 1995 to 1999 before losing re-election to Hodges. The two former governors once faced each other in an election.

Last week, Beasley wrote an opinion piece for the Charleston-based Post and Courier that lamented the state of the Republican Party under Donald Trump. “What has happened in the Republican Party today is just heartbreaking,” he wrote. “Too many in the party have gone along with winning by tearing others down and pitting people and communities against one another … I have yet to see President Donald Trump, as leader of the Republican Party, show compassion or even respect to someone or some group that he disagrees with.

“The vitriol is toxic, and it is undeniably feeding into the hearts, minds and souls of Americans.” Beasley added that it was “not the party that I knew, and it is not the party that I consider myself a member of.”

Republicans endorse Democrats in other 2026 contests

In usually deep-red Kansas, former Republican governors Bill Graves and Mike Hayden endorsed Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton in his bid to unseat Republican incumbent senator Roger Marshall.

In Texas, another unexpected Senate battleground, Democratic nominee James Talarico received public endorsements from more than 20 Republican leaders, as well as members of the Bush family, over Republican Ken Paxton.

Republicans also endorsed Democrats in Georgia, Montana, Florida, Virginia, Illinois and South Dakota. Taken together, the examples show the South Carolina endorsement was part of a broader 2026 pattern of Republican support for Democratic candidates during the midterms, even as recent polling still showed Graham ahead and Cook rated the contest “Lean Republican.”