Politics · United States · 8 mins ago
Annie Andrews projected to win South Carolina Senate race
Democrat Annie Andrews is projected to defeat Republican Darline Graham in South Carolina’s US Senate race.
Graham was appointed to the seat after her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, died in July, then ran for a full six-year term.
The win would flip a seat Republicans have held for nearly three decades; South Carolina last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 1998.
Andrews would also be the first woman elected to represent the state in the Senate.
Graham had President Donald Trump’s endorsement, but some Republicans backed a write-in effort for Congressman Ralph Norman after he lost the Republican primary.
Andrews focused her campaign on affordability and economic concerns, while criticizing Graham’s qualifications.
The projection puts Andrews on course to serve a full Senate term, though the sources do not give a date for when she would take office.
Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina’s Senate race, according to race calls cited by the outlets.
Andrews will be the first woman elected to the US Senate from South Carolina.
She is the first Democrat to win a Senate race in the state since 1998.
The result flipped a seat Republicans had held for nearly three decades and was a major upset in a state Donald Trump won by about 18 points in 2024.
Andrews campaigned on affordability and drew on her experience as a pediatrician who treated patients facing financial barriers to health care.
- Who
- Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham.
- What
- Andrews won the South Carolina US Senate race, flipping a Republican-held seat.
- When
- Election Day was Tuesday, November 3, 2026; outlets projected or called the race early on November 4 UTC.
- Where
- South Carolina.
- Why
- Not stated
Andrews and her supporters
Graham and her supporters
Affordability
Andrews and her supporters
Andrews made affordability central to her campaign and said she would push to raise wages, end tax breaks for the wealthy and support affordable child care.
Graham and her supporters
Graham’s campaign position on affordability is not stated.
Trump’s role
Andrews and her supporters
Andrews said she was willing to work with the president and rarely campaigned with national Democrats.
Graham and her supporters
Trump endorsed Graham, rallied for her and campaigned to save the seat.
Sen. Lindsey Graham died, and Darline Graham was appointed to fill his seat.
Donald Trump rallied for Darline Graham in Pendleton.
Trump rallied for Graham in Rock Hill, a week after the Pendleton event.
South Carolina voters cast ballots in the Senate race.
News outlets called or projected Annie Andrews as the winner.
- Winner
- Annie Andrews, Democrat
- Opponent
- Darline Graham, Republican incumbent
- State
- South Carolina
- Previous Democratic Senate win
- 1998
- Trump’s 2024 margin in South Carolina
- Nearly 18 points
- Andrews’ profession
- Pediatrician
10 sources
Democrat Annie Andrews wins South Carolina Senate race in major upset
Democrats Flip South Carolina Senate Seat
Democrat Annie Andrews will unseat GOP Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina
In Democrats’ second Senate flip of the night, South Carolina rejects the senator Trump hand-picked
Bret Baier Warns Jesse Watters to ‘Be Careful’ After He Calls Darline Graham’s Senate Race Loss Early
Democrat Annie Andrews Upsets Darline Graham to Win South Carolina Senate Seat
Darline Graham loses late brother Lindsey's South Carolina Senate seat in seismic defeat for Republicans as Democratic demolition takes shape
Write-In Ralph: South Carolina Republicans challenge Trump’s Senate pick
What people are saying
No parent in America should have to be thinking about their pocketbook when they're hearing news that their child has a chronic illness.
I’m willing to work with anyone, including the president.
Darline Graham, nice woman, but she choked.
Be careful about that.