ABC News 4 (by Ian Kayanja) — Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic challenger Dr. Annie Andrews both reported strong fundraising totals heading into the 2026 election year, signaling a well-financed and increasingly competitive U.S. Senate race in South Carolina.
Graham’s campaign said Thursday it ended 2025 with more than $13.4 million cash on hand and raised $1.1 million during the fourth quarter across its fundraising entities. The four-term senator is seeking reelection in a state that has trended reliably Republican in recent statewide contests.
Graham’s campaign said it has assembled a grassroots leadership network of more than 500 activists across all 46 South Carolina counties and highlighted a slate of high-profile endorsements, including Trump, Gov. Henry McMaster and Sen. Tim Scott, who are serving as co-chairs of his reelection effort. Other endorsers cited by the campaign include former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and several conservative and anti-abortion organizations.
On the Democratic side, Andrews, a Charleston pediatrician making her first bid for the Senate, reported raising more than $1.47 million in the fourth quarter, bringing her total fundraising haul to more than $4 million since launching her campaign. Her campaign said it has received more than 156,000 individual contributions so far, with an average donation under $26, and no money from corporate political action committees.
Andrews framed her fundraising as a sign of grassroots momentum and voter frustration with Washington.
“As Lindsey Graham continues to stake his political career on making healthcare more expensive and out of reach, South Carolinians are saying enough is enough,” Andrews said in a statement, adding that her campaign is focused on lowering costs and expanding access to health care.
The competing reports underscore a stark contrast between the two campaigns: Graham relying on a deep war chest, national allies and long-established political networks, and Andrews emphasizing small-dollar donations and a message centered on affordability and health care.
South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1998, but Democrats have sought to make inroads in recent cycles by boosting turnout and fundraising through national attention.
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