Dr. Annie Andrews said on Tuesday that Sen. Darline Graham has been the beneficiary of “record-breaking” outside spending tied to the data center industry, accusing a pro-data-center super PAC of pumping new cash into ads for Graham in South Carolina.
Andrews accused a group she named Building the Future of putting another $1.5 million into ads supporting Graham, and said data center-related PACs have now spent nearly $5 million backing the senator, according to reporting by WACH and Fox17.
Andrews framed the spending as part of broader outside influence on the race, telling reporters “that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” and citing what she described as more than $27 million in outside super PAC spending backing Graham.
The accusation centers on data center projects that have become flashpoints across South Carolina over tax breaks, local infrastructure and community impact; Andrews pointed to Graham’s recent visit to Spartanburg, where a nearly $3 billion data center project is under discussion.
Conservative strategist Joel Sawyer told WACH that data centers have become a major political issue in the state, saying voters are debating both their economic benefits and community effects.
What Andrews is alleging and why it matters
Andrews is not alleging illegal activity in the reporting WACH and Fox17 cite; she is questioning who funds Building the Future and why that money is backing Graham’s positions on data centers, which Andrews said the senator has supported publicly.
The two outlets report Andrews’ claim that Building the Future has not disclosed its funding sources and that the latest $1.5 million boosts a larger wave of pro-Graham outside spending tied to data center interests.
Data center projects have drawn attention in parts of the state for the size of their tax incentives and the scale of planned investment, and the spending Andrews cites would mean major outside groups are investing heavily in the South Carolina Senate contest.
Campaign reaction and next steps
The reporting notes Andrews called for answers and transparency; the articles do not include a direct response from Sen. Graham or Building the Future in those stories. Andrews’ campaign provided the figures to reporters at a Tuesday event in Columbia cited by both outlets.
The accusation adds another line of attack in a close race where outside spending and economic development projects are already central issues for voters.
Sources
- WZTV / Fox17 — reported Andrews’ claim that a pro-data-center PAC put $1.5 million into ads and that data-center PACs have spent nearly $5 million for Graham.
- WCIV / ABC News 4 — reported Andrews’ remarks and her broader claim of more than $27 million in outside spending backing Graham, and cited local reaction over a Spartanburg data center project.
