BEAUFORT, S.C. — Beaufort County residents packed a Black Chamber of Commerce session Tuesday to press Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Annie Andrews on housing costs, health care and whether working families can still live near Lowcountry jobs.
Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse joined Andrews for the stop. High school students also attended, including Hilton Head High junior Ana Diaz, who said she wants Hilton Head Island to remain affordable for her generation.
Andrews argued federal housing rules should push more workforce units, pointing to a statewide median home price near $350,000 against a median salary near $70,000. She said tourism-economy workers are the backbone of coastal communities yet often cannot afford to live where they clock in.
Affordability also dominated a recent statewide debate that featured Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham, who talked about paycheck-to-paycheck budgets and high pump prices. Both campaigns want voters in the early-voting window.
South Carolina early voting for the Nov. 3 general election runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 31, with county centers open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beaufort County sites include the main elections office on John Galt Road, USCB on Hilton Head, and libraries in Bluffton and on St. Helena Island.
