• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

Lindsey Graham, Jaime Harrison SC Senate Debate Canceled After Graham Refused To Be Tested For COVID-19

Harrison brought his own plexiglass shield to his last debate against Graham.
Lindsey Graham, Jaime Harrison SC Senate Debate Canceled After Graham Refused To Be Tested For COVID-19
By Essence · Updated April 28, 2022

UPDATE: 4:50 P.M. EST – Oct. 9, 2020: The South Carolina senate debate has been canceled. Both candidates will instead participate in separate 30-minute forums on a local station, the Hill reports.

“We’re disappointed that Lindsey has failed to take a simple coronavirus test, but we appreciate our hosts were able to change the event format to make it safer for everyone,” Harrison campaign spokesman Guy King said in a statement. “Jaime will be there in Spartanburg to talk to voters.” 

No such luck, Lindsey. I'll be there.

Thank you to our hosts for accommodating Senator Graham's refusal to take a Covid test, and changing the debate format to keep everyone safe. 🙄 https://t.co/pbNF5Fnqac

— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) October 9, 2020

EARLIER:

Politician Jaime Harrison is currently in the running to become a senator for South Carolina—but he may opt out of tonight’s debate. His opposition, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), is refusing to take another COVID-19 test ahead of the scheduled face off.

Post and Courier reports that on October 8, Harrison, as well as the debate’s moderators, had agreed to take a COVID-19 test before the debate. When Sen. Graham was asked by Harrison to comply, he did not. “[I]f Sen. Graham will not take a coronavirus test, I cannot responsibly debate in person tomorrow night and allow politics to put my family, my campaign staff, Sen. Graham’s staff, and members of the media at unnecessary risk,” Harrison said in a press release.

I'm excited for tomorrow's debate with @LindseyGrahamSC, but we need real leadership in this pandemic.

The debate moderators and I have agreed to take a COVID test prior to debating. I've scheduled my test, and I am calling on Sen. Graham to do the same.

— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) October 8, 2020

Whether Mr. Harrison attends tomorrow’s debate is his decision, not mine. I will be there. 7pm in Spartanburg. #CantWait #SCSen pic.twitter.com/IZjJDEQqYJ

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 8, 2020

Sen. Graham wrote his own response and posted it to Twitter.

“Jaime Harrison is too liberal for South Carolina,” he wrote. “I listen to the medical experts and follow their advice. I will continue to follow the guidance of my doctors, not my political opponent.” Harrison then publicly inquired about why Sen. Graham refused to be tested.

“Why won’t you take the test, Lindsey?,” he wrote on Twitter. Actor Mark Ruffalo also chimed in, asking, “Why won’t you take a Covid test [Senator Graham?] Why be so irresponsible that you would expose your opponent and the debate crew to a deadly disease? Not becoming of a US senator.”

Why won't you take the test, Lindsey? https://t.co/dEVXUuBWqA

— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) October 9, 2020

Harrison brought his own plexiglass shield to his last debate against Graham.

TOPICS:  COVID-19 Jaime Harrison Lindsey Graham
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now