Two rival ex-SC governors, one from each party, jointly back Democrat Annie Andrews for Senate

Two men who once competed for the same office — one Republican, one Democrat — stood together on camera Monday to endorse the same Senate candidate, in a state where no Democrat has won a Senate seat this century.

Former South Carolina governors David Beasley, a Republican who served from 1995 to 1999, and Jim Hodges, the Democrat who defeated him and succeeded him in office, issued a joint video endorsement of Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician challenging Republican Sen. Darline Graham in a race that has grown unexpectedly competitive.

This country is too divided, and the political rhetoric has gotten way, way out of hand.— David Beasley, former Republican governor of South Carolina

That's why we're coming together to support Annie Andrews.— Jim Hodges, former Democratic governor of South Carolina

The endorsement carries particular weight from Beasley, a former chair of the Republican Governors Association, who last week published an opinion piece in the Charleston-based Post and Courier openly breaking with his party.

What has happened in the Republican Party today is just heartbreaking. Too many in the party have gone along with winning by tearing others down and pitting people and communities against one another … I have yet to see President Donald Trump, as leader of the Republican Party, show compassion or even respect to someone or some group that he disagrees with. The vitriol is toxic, and it is undeniably feeding into the hearts, minds and souls of Americans.— David Beasley, former Republican governor of South Carolina

Beasley said the Republican Party today is "not the party that I knew, and it is not the party that I consider myself a member of."

Annie understands that leadership isn't about making people angrier. Well, it's about making things better.— David Beasley, former Republican governor of South Carolina

She's willing to put people ahead of politics.— Jim Hodges, former Democratic governor of South Carolina

We may have served as your governor from different political parties. But we agree South Carolina deserves better than more of the same political fighting.— David Beasley, former Republican governor of South Carolina

Andrews is running against Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed in July to fill the seat left by her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, after his death. According to the Boston Globe, Darline Graham has struggled on the campaign trail — in one debate saying she was "not that informed on national security" — and has been out-raised by Andrews. She has also faced skepticism from conservatives within her own party, even as President Trump, who was close with her brother, has backed her and is scheduled to hold a midterm rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Thursday, according to WMBF News.

Whether you voted for Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham, or anyone else, if you care more about lowering your bills than the political games in Washington, this campaign is for you.— Annie Andrews, Democratic Senate candidate

Despite the bipartisan boost, Andrews faces a steep climb. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has moved the race from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican" — a meaningful shift — but Graham still holds a polling lead, and Trump carried South Carolina by more than 17 points in his most recent presidential run, according to the Boston Globe. No Democrat has won a South Carolina Senate seat this century.

South Carolina is part of a broader pattern this midterm cycle. In Kansas, two former Republican governors, Bill Graves and Mike Hayden, endorsed Democrat Adam Hamilton over GOP incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall. In Texas, Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico has received endorsements from more than 20 Republican leaders as well as members of the Bush family over Republican Ken Paxton. Cross-party Republican endorsements of Democrats have also emerged in Georgia, Montana, Florida, Virginia, Illinois, and South Dakota, according to the Guardian.

Early voting is already underway in South Carolina. Election Day is set for November 3, according to WMBF News. Libertarian Kasie Whitener and Constitution Party candidate Mark Hackett are also on the ballot for the seat.

Why it matters — A Republican former governor publicly abandoning his party to jointly endorse a Democrat — in a state Trump won by 17 points — is a concrete measure of how far Republican dissatisfaction with Trump has traveled, and it has moved the Cook Political Report's rating of the race in Democrats' favor.

Reported by theguardian.com, thehill.com, yahoo.com, wmbfnews.com, bostonglobe.com