Summary

News

Lindsey Graham

Current Position: US Senator since 2002
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator

Lindsey Graham has earned a reputation as a conservative problem-solver and one of the strongest proponents of a robust national defense.

Graham is also a leader in cutting spending, reforming entitlements, and getting government out of the way so businesses can create jobs.

Graham currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

For more information, see this Lindsey Graham post.

Jaimie Harrison

Current Position: chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party since 2013
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator

Jaime Harrison is running for U.S. Senate to fight for opportunity for all South Carolinians, and he’s willing to work with anyone to do it. Because when a rural hospital closes, or coverage for pre-existing conditions is threatened, the health of all South Carolinians is put at risk. These days, Wall Street is doing great, while middle class South Carolinians feel like they’re just barely hanging on. Jaime will fight to invest in schools and training, and to end the student loan debt crisis.

For more information, see this Jaimie Harrison post.

Issues

Governance

Lindsey Graham 

JUDGES AND PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTION

This is Lindsey Graham’s record on judges:

• Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
• Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.
• Over 200 district and court of appeals judges – nominated by President Trump – confirmed for lifetime appointments to the federal bench.

When he assumed the role of Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Graham made clear his priority: “Judges, judges, and more judges.”

Today, 20 percent of all current federal judges were nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.

Senator Graham has made good on his promise.

Jaimie Harrison 

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Democracy

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Jaimie Harrison 

Defending our Democracy

Jaime’s passion for public service came at an early age when he learned that good citizens make good communities. Growing up, he made a point to learn all he could about government, and he credits his success in life to that foundation.

But today, public confidence in our institutions is low. Politicians have replaced the respected leaders who used to run our country. Government corruption and fraud have undermined public trust. Gerrymandering gives elected officials the power to pick their voters. And campaign finance regulations have created an environment where dark money and corporate donors get an outsized say in politics. Jaime will fight to make our democracy fairer, by undoing the damage wrought by the disastrous Citizens United decision and ensuring that politicians do not receive personal profits from public office.

Jaime has a deep appreciation for the enduring struggle that helped our nation become a more perfect union. As Senator, he will fight to preserve our fundamental rights—not because they are in his political interests, but because it is the necessary thing to do to protect our values. And Jaime knows the best way to restore confidence in our government is to instill a love of country and community in our young people.

Civil Rights

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2nd Amendment

Lindsey Graham is a strong supporter of Americans’ right to “keep and bear arms” as specified in the Second Amendment of the Constitution. As an owner of multiple guns himself, Senator Graham has been a steadfast protector of law-abiding gun owners. He is proud to receive high marks from organizations advocating for responsible gun ownership, including a 100% rating from the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Lindsey Graham is also committed to ending the scourge of senseless gun violence perpetrated by individuals who obtained firearms illegally. In the case of the Parkland shooter in Florida, the FBI and local police officers made numerous house calls due to complaints about the eventual shooter. Still, they were unable to take any action to disarm him before he killed seventeen innocent students. Working with members of both parties, Senator Graham has introduced legislation to create a federal grant program to assist law enforcement in coordinating with mental health professionals so preemptive action can be taken to stop known troubled individuals before they strike. This legislation is accompanied by robust due process to ensure no guns are taken from owners without just cause and swift due process.

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Economy

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Jobs & The Economy

Lindsey Graham understands that the way to create jobs and build a strong economy is to let Americans keep more of what they earn and get the government out of the way. Raised in the back room of a small bar, restaurant, and liquor store owned and operated by his parents, Senator Graham saw first-hand the tremendous work it takes to run a small business and the invaluable contributions they make to a community.

Lower taxes. Less regulation. A smaller, smarter, more efficient government. Those are the values and priorities Lindsey Graham has fought for as a senator in Washington.

In 2017, Senator Graham was a leading advocate for the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a historic tax reform package that spurred unprecedented economic growth throughout the country. In the wake of the agenda of deregulation and private enterprise empowerment championed by Senator Graham and President Trump, South Carolina experienced record low unemployment preceding the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator Graham has also been a strong advocate for South Carolina’s farming and agribusiness community through his support of numerous farm bills. He has been at the forefront of promoting our state’s speciality crops, fighting back against unfair trade practices, and ensuring that there is an adequate supply of legal labor for our farms. …

Supporting South Carolina

Here at home, Senator Graham is an integral member of #TeamSouthCarolina, which is the economic development effort designed to bring new business to the Palmetto State. Senator Graham was one of the first officials to meet with Boeing and let them know South Carolina was interested in becoming the second 787 Dreamliner production site. He played another leading role in talks with Volvo in their decision to locate a $1.1 billion manufacturing facility in Berkeley County.

Lindsey Graham secured the initial, critical funding to study and kick off the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project. He has led the South Carolina congressional delegation’s efforts in pushing for planning, design, and actual construction funding of the project. With one in ten jobs in South Carolina tied to the Port of Charleston, Senator Graham is proud to have helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars for the economic engine of South Carolina.

While working tirelessly to help South Carolina to become a modern manufacturing giant in the aviation, automotive and tire industries, Senator Graham has worked hand in hand with our textile manufacturers to help combat currency manipulation and intellectual property theft by China. He has helped the textile industry identify important manufacturing opportunities with the Department of Defense, and he has led the effort to bring our medical supply chain back from overseas.

See post for more info.

Jaimie Harrison

Grow the Middle Class

Jaime’s mother was a teenager when he was born, and she worked her hardest to provide the best possible life for him. When she was out of work and had few options, she contacted South Carolina’s Senators, Fritz Hollings and Strom Thurmond. Even though she did not know either Senator, and had no political connections to serve their interests, they helped her find work at a local factory. These leaders understood that their role was to serve all of their constituents, regardless of party.

As Senator, Jaime will serve the many South Carolinians who face struggles like the ones his own family faced. He will work to build an economy where the American Dream is a reality, and the middle class feels within reach. Every American deserves the opportunity to earn a living wage and keep their family healthy. As Senator, Jaime will fight to ensure that there’s economic opportunity for folks like his mom, who are willing to work.

As the COVID-19 pandemic bears down on South Carolina and the nation, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to reimagine our economy so that it rewards hard work and gives every family a fighting chance. Jaime’s agenda will spur growth, raise wages, and create jobs by investing in the American middle class. He supports expanding skill-training and apprenticeship opportunities, incentivizing innovation and small business creation across the state, and offering tax breaks to middle and working class families. He plans to raise the necessary revenues by repealing the 2017 tax cuts to big corporations and the ultra-wealthy.

Ensure Paid Family Leave

Growing up in a household where a missed day of work meant bills were not paid, Jaime has lived through the stress that confronts many South Carolina families. Today, Jaime and his wife, Marie, are two working parents of two young children so Jaime understands the importance of paid family leave. No parent should have to choose between their job and caring for their child, and no person should miss valuable moments with their loved ones because of work. With all the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, policies such as paid sick leave are critical—not only for individual workers but also for public health and the economy.

As Senator, Jaime will champion paid family and sick leave as well as tax credits for child care because he understands that what is good for South Carolina families is good for our economy.

Education

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Jaimie Harrison 

Work to End Poverty

Jaime rose up from poverty thanks to teachers and mentors who helped guide him to, and through, college. But he knows that his story is uncommon. For so many hard-working Americans, the American Dream is just that—a dream. Jaime understands that struggling families simply want a fair shot. That is why he will fight for an economy that gives every American family the hope for a better tomorrow, no matter their situation today.

Jaime taught at his old high school, and has dedicated his life to creating opportunity for others. Jaime knows there is no quick fix to poverty, and he knows what it’s like for families to get caught in the middle of political games. He’ll champion policies aimed at making the American Dream a reality, including better jobs, better schools, clean air and water, child care, affordable housing, and a strong social safety net for those who need help getting back on their feet. He will also fight to increase the earned income tax credit, a proven way to help struggling families.

In addition to this systemic fight to make an economy that works for working people, Jaime will tackle the root causes and consequences of poverty. He will increase funding for affordable housing and push back against bureaucratic zoning laws. He will advocate for good schools in every school district by boosting support for underfunded schools, retooling the teaching pipeline, and closing the digital divide. He will fight to expand Medicaid and work to ensure that healthcare is affordable and accessible for all. He will tackle food insecurity by eliminating food deserts, and ensuring resources for a new generation of produce farmers.

Bolster our Education System

Jaime is where he is today because of the power of public education. It gave him, a poor kid from Orangeburg, a route out of poverty. Jaime believes education must build ladders for other hard working students to climb out of poverty and into the middle class. That’s why he believes passionately in investing in South Carolina’s schools and colleges, including our Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In the Senate, he will be a fierce champion for public schools, working to increase grants to rural schools, beef up teacher recruitment and retention efforts, and ensure our next Secretary of Education undoes the damage caused by Betsy DeVos.

School districts across the country have been hit hard by COVID-19. Jaime will help schools respond to the pandemic with increased support for health-related modernizations and increased funding to shore up losses in state and local revenue. He will also fight for universal broadband access to ensure that no students are left behind by remote learning. And when it comes to reopening, Jaime will ensure that local communities retain control over decision-making.

But South Carolina’s public schools are responsible for much more than academic development: in many communities, they serve as a much-needed resource for mental health, nutrition, and stability. Too many South Carolina schools lack enough teachers and resources to provide the basic opportunities students need, much less get ahead. Jaime is committed to ensuring that all kids can get a good education, no matter where they live in South Carolina. That means that schools in our poor and rural communities must get the resources they need for all children to achieve. It also means that the academic expectations and aspirations in all schools must be as high.

See post for more info.

Environment

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Jaimie Harrison 

Safeguard our Environment

Having spent most of his life in South Carolina, Jaime remembers when historic floods happened once in a lifetime instead of regularly. Now, sea level rise in Charleston and the Southeast could cost our economy $47 billion. Droughts are causing wildfires in the Upstate, and stronger hurricanes and flooding put millions at risk. Climate change is an existential threat to our coastal communities, and it is beginning to affect areas that previously never had to consider emergency preparation.

Jaime will take action to make our coastline resilient, protect our clean air and water, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and prepare our infrastructure for rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms. He will also fight for South Carolinians by opposing any drilling off our pristine coast.

The climate crisis also presents an opportunity for the United States to become a leader in renewable energy. Jaime supports efforts to increase research into energy-efficient technologies and alternative energy sources. In the meantime, Jaime believes we must make immediate investments in public transportation, resilient infrastructure, and carbon capture. These investments are not just good for our environment. They make economic sense as well.

Additionally, Jaime recognizes the importance of stabilizing the communities most hurt by climate change. That is why he is proposing both an Environmental Justice Fund to reinvest in sustainable infrastructure in the hardest-hit communities as well as increased support for Superfund clean-up.

Health Care

Lindsey Graham 

Health Care

Health care is one of the most important issues for Americans.

First, Lindsey Graham believes no American should be denied medical coverage or insurance due to a preexisting condition.

Second, Senator Graham favors health care solutions which put patients – not government bureaucrats – in charge of medical decisions.

Third, Senator Graham opposes “Medicare for All,” which puts the government in complete control of the health care system.

So what’s the best way to bring down health care costs, cover more people, and make health insurance more affordable? Redirect money and power over health care decisions away from Washington and return it to patients, local communities, and states.

Just like no two patients are the same, no two states have the same health care populations and health care needs. Simply put, what works in Massachusetts may not work in South Carolina. And what works in South Carolina may not work in California.

That one-size-fits-all thinking is one of the many failures of Obamacare which centralizes money and decision-making in Washington.

Instead of continuing to empower Washington, Senator Graham supports returning money to the states and empowering local communities to explore and utilize health care solutions that work for them.

Recognizing the unique needs of South Carolina’s rural population, he has used the Appropriations process to bring millions of dollars to telehealth efforts, which aim to ensure every South Carolinian has access to quality medical care, regardless of where they live.

Senator Graham has also been at the forefront of funding important medical research. He is a co-chair of the Senate’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) Caucus, which has successfully secured billions of dollars of additional funding.

Jaimie Harrison 

Expand Access to and Affordability of Healthcare

Jaime knows first-hand how hard it can be to access medical care when you’re from a poor, rural community. His grandfather worked long backbreaking days, paving roads across South Carolina. Despite working his whole life, he couldn’t afford regular visits to the doctor. When he was finally able to see a doctor, he learned he suffered from undiagnosed diabetes, which had gone unchecked for years and resulted in his losing a leg.

Jaime’s family is not alone. Thousands in South Carolina face impossible choices between paying the regular bills or taking themselves or their kids to the doctor. Jaime will work tirelessly to make sure families don’t have to make those hard decisions. That means lowering the cost of healthcare for those who already pay too much, extending health care to those who cannot afford it to begin with, making sure all South Carolinians have access to high quality services they actually need, lowering prescription drug prices, protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and stopping the closure of rural hospitals.

Infrastrcuture

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Jaimie Harrison 

Invest in Infrastructure

Years ago, when Jaime was campaigning in rural South Carolina, he knocked on the door of a man completely disenchanted with politics. He lived on a dirt road, and he had been waiting for that road to be paved through five administrations. He was tired of waiting and had completely lost faith that his government would help him. For decades, his government had failed him.

Jaime will push for aggressive investments in our infrastructure to ensure that the government addresses the problems Americans deal with everyday. He believes that universal access to affordable broadband must be a cornerstone of an economy built for the next generation of workers. He will fight to modernize the state’s sanitation systems and end the lead crisis that is poisoning our children’s water sources. And he will upgrade the state’s roads and bridges so that they meet the highest standards of safety and encourage commercial activity.

Across South Carolina, hundreds of miles of roads are crumbling, bridges need urgent repairs, high-speed broadband internet skips over our rural areas, and sea-level rise threatens our sea ports. Failure to invest in infrastructure harms our quality of life and raises the cost of doing business. Addressing these shortfalls will save South Carolina residents money, enable local companies to thrive, and grow our economy.

Safety

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Jaimie Harrison 

Protect our National Security

The first line of every Senator’s Oath of Office calls on them to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Jaime believes we cannot retreat from our responsibilities as a global leader, and he will continue to protect America’s national security as Senator.

As a senior advisor to House Majority Whip James Clyburn, Jaime had the opportunity to travel overseas on official business. He saw conflict zones first-hand and learned the importance of maintaining America’s overwhelming military strength. Jaime understands that American security at home depends on American power abroad — military, diplomatic, and economic.

As Senator, he will work to reinvigorate our fractured alliances, and pursue diplomatic solutions that prevent conflicts at home and abroad. That means pursuing a holistic foreign policy that considers global issues, like climate change and pandemics, while confronting threats to the United States. And rather than ignore the clear and present threat of election interference, Jaime will fight to protect the integrity of our democracy.

Most importantly, Jaime knows that South Carolina is an integral piece of the international economy: America’s international alliances drive trade that strengthens our economy. In addition, Jaime knows that endless wars have cost us too many lives and too many dollars. Jaime will pursue a national security policy that prizes diplomacy, protects American interests, and benefits South Carolina’s economic security.

Criminal Justice Reform

The American criminal justice system is in dire need of reform. Too many non-violent offenders have been locked up for decades because of unfair sentencing laws. Jaime understands the ways that the law has been used to disproportionately target communities. As Senator, Jaime will fight for a justice system that stands for real justice. And he will work to counteract the built-in biases of the criminal justice system.

Previous generations witnessed the tragedy of Emmett Till and today we have lived through the tragic and heartbreaking stories of so many others. Too many families, including Jaime’s own, have been devastated by violence, long prison sentences, and generally a lack of opportunity.

Jaime understands racial profiling, bias, injustice and over-policing have plagued our communities for generations. He believes we must end qualified immunity, private prisons and the cash bail system.  In addition, Jaime believes we must work together to build safer communities, bring jobs back to our neighborhoods, invest in our schools and rebuild broken families devastated by unjust policies and practices like racial profiling.

Seniors

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Veterans

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Standing up for Veterans

With six military bases and 37,507 active service members in South Carolina, Jaime grew up rooted in the knowledge that military service was a sacred assignment and that we must never break our promise to take care of those who have served our nation. He knows that our heroes make sacrifices for our country, and their service can often take a toll on their minds and bodies in a way that many civilians don’t understand. Even veterans with otherwise smooth departures from military service often find it difficult to reenter civilian life. One third of veterans end up taking jobs that are below their skill level, and 44 percent leave their first post-military jobs within a year. With this in mind, Jaime knows we must do everything we can to support our men and women in uniform.

As a Senator, Jaime will hold the VA accountable to reduce wait times and improve the quality of care available to veterans. He’ll also increase access to mental health resources to treat PTSD and address the epidemic of veteran suicides. He will make sure veterans have access to job readiness programs that help navigate civilian life. And Jaime will fight for military base housing for those fighting for our country and their families. Jaime believes no veteran should struggle alone after serving their nation.