Former S.C. Democratic Chair Jaime Harrison to challenge Lindsey Graham in 2020 Senate race

(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/Maddow Blog)

published 29 May 2019

Former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison announced on Tuesday night that he will run for Senate against Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Harrison, now an official with the Democratic National Committee, told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow he will formally announce his candidacy on Wednesday morning. "What we are seeing with Lindsey Graham right now makes you question his character," he said, adding that he used to think Graham "was a statesman" able to "stand above the fray and help solve the issues. But I've seen that he's what George Will called 'a political windsock.'"

Graham, once one of President Trump's harshest critics, has transformed himself into one of his staunchest allies, and won re-election in 2014 by more than 15 points. Many people view South Carolina and other southern states as firmly red, but Harrison said Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.) winning in 2018 and Stacey Abrams coming close in the Georgia gubernatorial race shows times are changing. "We're on the verge of a renaissance in the South, a new South," he said. "I really hope people will help join me in this effort." Catherine Garcia

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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