MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Voters in Myrtle Beach gathered Sunday night for a Horry County Republican Party watch party as South Carolina U.S. Senate candidates debated live on SCETV, giving Grand Strand residents a local venue to follow the only scheduled face-off.
The party was hosted at Journey Church. Democrat Annie Andrews, Republican Sen. Darline Graham and Libertarian Kasie Whitener took questions on Iran, the economy and artificial intelligence, with much of the exchange centered on Graham and Andrews.
Watch-party attendees said they expected personal attacks between the major-party candidates, and some left feeling more certain about their choices after hearing the hour-long debate.
With three women on the ballot, South Carolina is poised to elect its first woman to the U.S. Senate. Early voting opens across South Carolina from Oct. 19 to 31, Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with centers closed Sunday, Oct. 25, and Election Day on Nov. 3.
Graham and Andrews also traded sharper attacks on qualifications and foreign policy during the Columbia studio debate, while Whitener used her time to pitch a third option beyond the two major parties.
Tourism dominates Myrtle Beach politics and the visitor economy, and fall election events layered onto the Grand Strand calendar keep local parties focused on turnout among year-round residents as well as seasonal voters.
