U.S. Senate, South Carolina · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated October 9, 2026

Who should I vote for in the South Carolina U.S. Senate race?

Kasie Whitener has the strongest record in the South Carolina U.S. Senate race. Kasie Whitener scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Darline Graham at 56 and Annie Andrews at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Kasie Whitener's highest marks are roots in the constituency and communication. Darline Graham's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. Mark Hackett (0 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Democratic

Annie Andrews

53 / 100

Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 55
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

Republican · incumbent

Darline Graham

56 / 100

Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 70
Performance: 42

Campaign site FEC filings

Constitution

Mark Hackett

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria

Character: NR
Qualifications: NR
Performance: NR

Libertarian

Strongest record

Kasie Whitener

59 / 100

Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 65
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

The good, the bad and the unresolved

The record

The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.

Annie Andrews

Credit2026-09-11
Pressed for general election debates and accepted both the SCETV debate set for Oct. 11, 2026 and a FOX Carolina televised debate invitation.
Source: FOX Carolina, Sept. 11, 2026
Credit2026-09-12
Held public stops on a statewide Affordability Tour, including a Sept. 12, 2026 meeting with voters in Marion.
Source: WPDE, Sept. 12, 2026
Creditto 2023
Worked as a pediatric hospitalist at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she also completed a master's degree in clinical research.
Source: Vanity Fair, July 2026
Credit2022-03
Lead author of a peer-reviewed study, Pediatric Firearm Injury Mortality Epidemiology, published in Pediatrics in March 2022 with Medical University of South Carolina co-authors.
Source: PubMed search, Andrews AL, firearm

Darline Graham

On the record2026-07-14
Appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster after the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and sworn in July 14, 2026, the first woman to serve in the Senate from South Carolina.
Source: Roll Call, July 14, 2026
On the record2026-08-18
In the Aug. 18, 2026 Republican runoff debate, asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea, she said she was not that informed on national security and that she supports the military.
Source: ABC News, Aug. 19, 2026
Credit2026-09-18
Sponsored S. 5025, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, with 63 cosponsors from both parties; it was enacted through the identical House bill H.R. 5334, signed Sept. 18, 2026.
Source: GovTrack, S. 5025
Credit2026-09-11
Accepted an SCETV general election debate with Annie Andrews, set for Oct. 11, 2026 in Columbia.
Source: South Carolina Public Radio, Sept. 14, 2026
Credit2019 to 2026
Led the S.C. Commission for the Blind from fall 2019 as its budget grew from about $14 million to over $90 million; Able SC's CEO said the agency changed markedly under her.
Source: Post and Courier, Aug. 22, 2026

Mark Hackett

No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.

Kasie Whitener

Credit2026-09-25
Qualified for and accepted the Oct. 11, 2026 SCETV debate with the Republican and Democratic nominees.
Source: FOX Carolina, Sept. 25, 2026

Who they are

Character

Integrity

Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.

2 / 4

Annie Andrews. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

2 / 4

Darline Graham. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through Aug. 5, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

2 / 4

Kasie Whitener. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

Courage

Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.

Annie Andrews. No public record found.

Darline Graham. No public record found.

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

Kasie Whitener. No public record found.

Accountability

Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.

2 / 4

Annie Andrews. Pressed for general election debates, accepted the SCETV debate set for Oct. 11, 2026 and an invitation from FOX Carolina, and holds public campaign events around the state.

Sources: FOX Carolina, Sept. 11, 2026, WPDE, Sept. 2026

2 / 4

Darline Graham. Debated Rep. Ralph Norman before the Aug. 25, 2026 runoff and on Sept. 11, 2026 accepted an SCETV general election debate with Annie Andrews set for Oct. 11.

Sources: ABC News, Aug. 19, 2026, South Carolina Public Radio, Sept. 14, 2026

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

2 / 4

Kasie Whitener. Qualified for and accepted the Oct. 11, 2026 SCETV debate with the major-party nominees, and lists a statewide tour of public events and candidate forums.

Sources: FOX Carolina, Sept. 25, 2026, Campaign site, Statewide Tour

Temperament and judgment

Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.

2 / 4

Annie Andrews. Worked as a pediatric hospitalist at the Medical University of South Carolina until 2023. No conduct finding found.

Source: Vanity Fair, July 2026

2 / 4

Darline Graham. Worked at the state Vocational Rehabilitation Department and led the S.C. Commission for the Blind from 2019 to 2026 before her Senate appointment. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.

Source: Ballotpedia, Darline Graham

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

2 / 4

Kasie Whitener. Teaches at the University of South Carolina's business school and chairs the state Libertarian Party committee. No conduct finding found.

Source: Ballotpedia, Kasie Whitener

Fidelity to the oath

Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.

Annie Andrews. No public record found.

2 / 4

Darline Graham. Took the Senate oath on July 14, 2026 after appointment to fill her late brother's seat. She was not in office for any electoral count. No misuse-of-office finding found.

Source: Roll Call, July 14, 2026

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

Kasie Whitener. No public record found.

What they bring

Qualifications

Relevant experience

Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.

2 / 4

Annie Andrews. A pediatrician and clinical researcher who worked as a hospitalist at the Medical University of South Carolina and earned a master's in clinical research there. Has not held public office.

Sources: Vanity Fair, July 2026, WPDE, Sept. 2026

3 / 4

Darline Graham. Headed a state agency, the S.C. Commission for the Blind, from fall 2019 to 2026, after years at the state Vocational Rehabilitation Department. U.S. senator since July 14, 2026.

Sources: Post and Courier, Aug. 22, 2026, GovTrack, Darline Graham Nordone

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

2 / 4

Kasie Whitener. Clinical assistant professor at the University of South Carolina since 2017, a director of its Faber Entrepreneurship Center, a business owner and chair of the state Libertarian Party. Has not held public office.

Source: Ballotpedia, Kasie Whitener

Command of the job

Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.

2 / 4

Annie Andrews. Has published an affordability plan and a plan on wasteful federal spending and fraud, and states positions on immigration and abortion, mostly in general terms.

Sources: WPDE, Sept. 2026, Greenville News via Yahoo, Sept. 21, 2026

2 / 4

Darline Graham. Publishes an issues page with positions on taxes, the border, abortion, elections, crime and guns, mostly in general terms. No committee leadership post.

Source: Campaign site, Issues

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

2 / 4

Kasie Whitener. States positions on a balanced budget amendment, the national debt, Social Security and Medicare, in general terms.

Sources: Campaign site, home page, Live 5 News, July 17, 2026

Communication

Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.

3 / 4

Annie Andrews. Publishes policy plans, takes interviews at public tour stops and accepted the SCETV debate. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.

Sources: WPDE, Sept. 2026, FOX Carolina, Sept. 11, 2026, Ballotpedia, Annie Andrews

3 / 4

Darline Graham. Publishes plain-language issue pages, took part in the August 2026 runoff debate and agreed to the Oct. 11 general election debate. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.

Sources: Campaign site, Issues, ABC News, Aug. 19, 2026, South Carolina Public Radio, Sept. 14, 2026

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

3 / 4

Kasie Whitener. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025, publishes an issues summary and a campaign newsletter, and accepted the SCETV debate.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Kasie Whitener, Campaign site, home page, FOX Carolina, Sept. 25, 2026

Roots in the constituency

Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.

2 / 4

Annie Andrews. Lives in Charleston; moved to the Mount Pleasant area to work at MUSC after medical training in Ohio. FEC by-state totals show about 40 percent of itemized individual contributions from South Carolina.

Sources: Greenville News via Yahoo, Sept. 21, 2026, Vanity Fair, July 2026, FEC contribution totals by state

3 / 4

Darline Graham. Born and raised in Central, S.C., and lives in Lexington. FEC by-state totals show about 19 percent of itemized individual contributions from South Carolina.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Darline Graham, Campaign site, home page, FEC contribution totals by state

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

4 / 4

Kasie Whitener. A Florence native who returned to South Carolina in 1995 and lives in Blythewood. FEC by-state totals show about 75 percent of itemized individual contributions from South Carolina.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Kasie Whitener, FEC contribution totals by state

Management

Can build and run an organization.

2 / 4

Annie Andrews. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

3 / 4

Darline Graham. Led the S.C. Commission for the Blind, which had about 93 employees when she took over and now has a budget above $90 million. FEC reports on file; no FEC administrative fine.

Sources: Post and Courier, Aug. 22, 2026, FEC administrative fines search

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

2 / 4

Kasie Whitener. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

What they deliver

Performance

Results

Turns ideas into outcomes.

Annie Andrews. No public record found.

2 / 4

Darline Graham. Sponsored S. 5025, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, introduced July 2026; it was enacted through the identical House bill H.R. 5334, signed Sept. 18, 2026. No Center for Effective Lawmaking score yet.

Sources: GovTrack, enacted legislation, GovTrack, S. 5025

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

Kasie Whitener. No public record found.

Showing up

Does the basic work of the job.

Annie Andrews. No public record found.

1 / 4

Darline Graham. Missed 5 of 62 roll call votes, 8.1 percent, from July to September 2026.

Source: GovTrack, missed votes

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

Kasie Whitener. No public record found.

Constituent service

Solves problems for the people they represent.

Annie Andrews. No public record found.

Darline Graham. No public record found.

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

Kasie Whitener. No public record found.

Coalition building

Wins support beyond their own faction.

Annie Andrews. No public record found.

2 / 4

Darline Graham. Her Russia sanctions bill drew 63 cosponsors, 41 Republicans, 21 Democrats and one independent, and was enacted. No Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score yet.

Source: GovTrack, S. 5025

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

Kasie Whitener. No public record found.

Stewardship of public money

Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.

Annie Andrews. No public record found.

Darline Graham. No public record found.

Mark Hackett. No public record found.

Kasie Whitener. No public record found.

How to read this

Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.

A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.

No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.

Questions

Who should I vote for in the South Carolina U.S. Senate race?

Who is running in the South Carolina U.S. Senate race in 2026?

Annie Andrews (Democratic), Darline Graham (Republican, incumbent), Mark Hackett (Constitution), Kasie Whitener (Libertarian). The general election is November 3, 2026.

Is Annie Andrews a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Annie Andrews scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

Is Darline Graham a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Darline Graham scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 42 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

Is Mark Hackett a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Mark Hackett has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

Is Kasie Whitener a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Kasie Whitener scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

How is the strongest record decided?

The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.

More on this race: every South Carolina race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the South Carolina 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.