Democrat Annie Andrews wins South Carolina Senate seat in historic upset

Election Results

Democrat Annie Andrews has won the US Senate race in South Carolina, defeating Republican Darline Graham and becoming the first Democrat to represent the state in the Senate in over twenty-five years. NBC News projects the upset victory in a state that President Donald Trump carried by more than seventeen percentage points two years prior. The election also marks the first time South Carolina has ever elected a woman to the US Senate.

Campaign and Candidates

Andrews, a pediatrician who campaigned on healthcare affordability, faced a tough race in a reliably Republican state. Darline Graham, a former state government administrator, had been appointed to the seat in July by Governor Henry McMaster. She stepped into the role after her brother, longtime five-term Senator Lindsey Graham, died suddenly from a heart problem at age seventy-one. Donald Trump publicly urged Graham to run and campaigned for her, while the Senate Leadership Fund spent $13 million to boost her campaign. Meanwhile, Andrews significantly outraised and outspent her opponent, pulling in more than $4 million in the final pre-election funding period and spending over $4.6 million in just two weeks.

Debates and Issues

Graham drew early criticism for lacking national political experience, admitting during an August debate that she was not well-informed on national security when asked about US policy on Taiwan. The two candidates also clashed over foreign policy, guns, and social views. Andrews criticized US policy on the war with Iran as an illegal billion-dollar-a-day conflict. Graham aligned closely with Trump on trade and tariffs, though she broke with him by stating she did not trust Russia or Putin regarding sanctions. Andrews faced criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates over campaign ads referring to trans women as biological men, while Graham accused Andrews of flip-flopping and deceiving voters.

Context

Senate appointments by state governors are a common mechanism used to temporarily fill sudden legislative vacancies until a special or regular election can be held. Midterm and special Senate races in traditionally safe party strongholds often tighten when unique candidate vulnerabilities intersect with heavy outside financial investment.