Democrat Annie Andrews Defeats Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina Senate Race
South Carolina has elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate for the first time in nearly three decades.
Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham on Tuesday, according to the Fox News Decision Desk, flipping a seat that had been in Republican hands for years.
Graham was appointed to the seat by Gov. Henry McMaster after the death of her brother, longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham, in July. She then won the Republican nomination in an August runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman.
Fox News reported that poor turnout for Graham in conservative parts of the state opened the door for Andrews. South Carolina had not sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1998.
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The Fox News Decision Desk noted that Democrats did not pour heavy resources into the race, making the outcome even more striking for a state that has voted reliably Republican in statewide contests for a generation.
Trump Campaigned Hard for Graham
President Donald Trump endorsed Graham and visited South Carolina several times to rally support for her.
“Everybody respects her. She's smart and incredible. She'll never let you down,” Trump told supporters.
Trump described Graham as a candidate focused on affordability and said continued Republican control of Congress would help his economic agenda. At a rally in Rock Hill, he declared that “our economy is roaring” while warning voters against handing Democrats control.
He also urged supporters not to grow complacent, telling them, “Just say that I'm on the ballot one more time.” Trump had earlier stopped in Myrtle Beach during the primary runoff and defended Graham when critics questioned her experience on international security.
Support From Scott and Bessent
South Carolina's other senator, Republican Tim Scott, also backed Graham. He praised her early work in the Senate, saying she had helped move legislation forward within her first three months, and called her “a powerhouse” and “a true conservative.”
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a South Carolina native, appeared at an October campaign event and said Graham and Trump offered hope for the country.
Graham ran on conservative positions on immigration enforcement, gun rights, abortion and cultural issues, while also stressing affordability. “I am a proud conservative Christian who will fight every single day for your family,” she told supporters.
Her campaign worked to draw a sharp contrast between Andrews's policy positions and the views of South Carolina's conservative electorate, while her supporters pointed to Trump's backing, Scott's praise and her short record in Washington.
An Outsider Who Fell Short
Critics pointed to Graham's limited political experience. She embraced the label on the trail. “Now, the critics say I shouldn't run for the Senate,” she told primary voters. “They say I'm not a politician.” Then she added, “Guilty as charged,” drawing applause.
Andrews also picked up support from across the aisle, including an endorsement from former Republican Gov. David Beasley, a sign that the race did not split neatly along party lines.
The result is a painful one for Republicans, who entered the midterms with a 53-seat Senate majority and needed to hold every seat they could. Losing a state as reliably red as South Carolina adds to a difficult night for the party and reshapes the Senate math heading into next year.