Conservative columnist George Will urged South Carolina voters to choose Democrat Annie Andrews over Trump‑backed Republican Darline Graham in a Washington Post op‑ed. Will criticized Graham's debate performance, her remarks on healthcare and transgender issues, and her alignment with Trump‑style policies. He said electing Andrews would demonstrate political independence, and noted growing GOP unease exemplified by Karl Rove's decision to vote for a Democrat this midterm.
George Will Breaks With GOP, Endorses Democrat Annie Andrews Over Trump‑Backed Darline Graham
Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) lost the support of longtime conservative pundit George Will. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Conservative commentator George Will urged South Carolina voters to back Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Annie Andrews over Republican Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, in an op‑ed published in The Washington Post.
Will framed the choice as a test of state independence: "In November, South Carolinians' choice of their next U.S. senator will indicate whether their pride about their independence still endures," he wrote, and added that "this year, South Carolinians can demonstrate political independence by electing Democrat Annie Andrews."
Darline Graham, who began serving in the Senate last month following her brother's death, won the Republican runoff for the seat with President Donald Trump's endorsement. Will criticized the White House's intervention and warned that elevating Graham — who has limited national policy experience — signals presidential overreach.
Criticisms of Graham's Candidacy
Will faulted Graham's debate performance and public messaging. He described her debate showing as "cringeworthy," noting that she publicly admitted she was "not that informed on national security" and faced backlash for attacking what she called "government‑run healthcare."
Will: "By taking Lindsey Graham's sister away from her admirable work advocating for people with disabilities, the president is proclaiming that he can do whatever he wants."
Will also rebuked Graham's attacks on Andrews. In a Fox News op‑ed and other appearances, Graham accused her opponent of supporting policies that would "turn confused little boys into little girls and vice versa," a line Will cited as evidence that some GOP campaigns are focused on culture‑war topics rather than pressing economic and foreign‑policy challenges.
He argued that amid an active war abroad, a soaring deficit and persistent inflation, many Republican candidates appear preoccupied with transgender issues instead of those larger problems. Will further criticized Graham's alignment with Trump‑style positions on immigration and what he described as an "unshakable faith" in the unpopular Iran war.
Broader GOP Dissatisfaction
Will's public break with a Trump‑aligned candidate comes as other longtime conservatives are publicly reassessing the party. GOP strategist Karl Rove announced in The Wall Street Journal that he plans to vote for a Democrat this midterm — only the second time in his life — condemning candidates he says are diminishing the Republican Party after controversy surrounding GOP hopeful Bo French.
Will's endorsement of Andrews is notable for coming from a prominent conservative commentator and underscores growing unease among some establishment Republicans with the party's current direction and candidate choices.
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