Credit: iStock / PeterHermesFurian

There’s a reason why most reputable places don’t believe in nepotism. 

After all, just because you have a famous last name or are related to a recently deceased Senator doesn’t mean the talents, intellect or experience of that Senator are transferable. Think of the ocean of difference between assassinated U.S. Attorney General and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy and his reportedly brain-worm-infected son, the current secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Night and day. 

And yet, voters are often given another politician’s relative as a plate of reheated nachos to mull over.

Darline Graham, sister of South Carolina’s late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and current sitting senator, is that plate of reheated nachos.

“It’s a f—-ing train wreck,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. told MS NOW about the race. “It’s a mess.”

Lindsey Graham, who died at age 71 in July, and who still, despite his death, remains in the news, was President Donald Trump’s biggest critic-turned-cheerleader, performing a political whiplash that I’m sure future historians will have a lot to say about.

Graham was also a Republican lion of the Senate, serving South Carolina for 23 years while being a lover of unnecessary wars and neo-con-fueled ‘American exceptionalism’ and/or imperialism.

His sister, on the other hand, had zero legislative experience before being appointed to her brother’s seat by South Carolina’s governor, and is famously not as politically astute.

“I’m not that informed on national security,” she said during a primary debate in August, underscoring her lack of political experience or acumen. 

So for the first time this century, the Republicans are at-risk of losing this typically solidly red seat to a political unknown in Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and Democrat.

The New York Times is reporting that Dr. Andrews and Graham’s sister are in a statistical dead heat—48% to 48%.

“South Carolinians seem concerned over her fitness for the job, with 51 percent of the voters in the polls, including 18 percent of Republicans, saying that she did not have ‘right experience to be an effective senator.’ In contrast, 54 percent of voters, including 22 percent of Republicans, said that Dr. Andrews did,” wrote the New York Times.

Andrews is strong with independent voters, garnering 57% of their support, while Ms. Graham has only 37%. 

Andrews also has managed to nab 7% of the GOP vote.

“Even if I don’t agree with everything she says, at least I feel like she actually cares or means what she says or has her own take on things,” said GOP voter Douglas Stewart, 35, of Columbia, S.C., to The New York Times, later adding that he plans to cross party lines to vote for Andrews.

Also working in Dr. Andrews’ favor? Black voter turnout in South Carolina is through the roof, thanks to the GOP’s efforts to disenfranchise them. 

The Bulwark reported that, so far, 30 percent of SC’s early vote has been Black.

“(I)f we can keep that number around 24 percent, and then if Annie [Andrews] can continue to get 35 percent of the white vote, we got a new senator from South Carolina,” said former DNC chair and South Carolina native Jamie Harrison to The Bulwark.

While some voters will vote red no matter whose name is on the ticket, a few prominent conservatives in the state have backed her opponent. As of Monday, two South Carolina governors, one a Republican, have endorsed Dr. Andrews, while the son of South Carolina GOP Rep. Ralph Norman wrote an op-ed on why he can’t vote for Ms. Graham.

“There is no true conservative to vote for in this election,” Warren, Norman’s son, wrote.

I get that nepo babies are having a moment (when are they not?), and that no party is immune when you consider the large number of Bushes and Kennedys running around on both sides of the political aisle. But at some point, people have to realize that no matter how much you love nachos, they’re never going to be as good the second time around.

We’ll see whether South Carolina can stomach this microwaved plate or chooses another option come Nov. 3rd.

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