A new three-state survey places South Carolina’s Senate contest in a dead heat, expanding the map of races that could shape control of the chamber.
The survey questioned 707 likely voters in South Carolina, 752 in Minnesota and 813 in Florida between Oct. 19 and 26.
South Carolina’s result is the most consequential shift in the three-state comparison because Republicans have long held the state’s Senate seat. Graham was appointed to serve the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham’s term after his death in July, then won a special Republican primary backed by President Donald Trump. She is now seeking a full six-year term against Andrews, a pediatrician and first-time statewide candidate.
The contest has tightened amid questions about Graham’s readiness for the job. During an August debate, she said national security was not her area, and the new survey found that a majority of voters rejected the statement that she has the experience to be an effective senator. A majority said Andrews does have that experience. At an Oct. 11 debate in Columbia, the candidates argued over foreign policy, the economy, artificial intelligence and their qualifications.
The race has also exposed fractures within Republican circles. A former Republican governor endorsed Andrews, while Representative Ralph Norman, Graham’s principal rival in the special primary, criticized her qualifications and said he did not plan to assist her campaign. Both parties and outside groups have increased spending in South Carolina, and Trump was scheduled to return to the state Thursday. The poll does not establish whether the tie will hold through Election Day, but it confirms that a state once treated as safely Republican is now receiving serious attention in the Senate fight.