Democrat Annie Andrews wins South Carolina Senate seat

Democrat wins in deep red state

Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, defeated Republican Darline Graham for South Carolina's Senate seat. The AP called the race after Andrews won fifty point six percent of the vote with ninety three percent counted.

A stunning upset in red territory

South Carolina has not elected a Democratic senator this century. Polling weeks before Election Day showed the race had become a toss-up, though Republicans expected to win months earlier.

Lindsey Graham's death changed everything

Former Senator Lindsey Graham died in July. His sister Darline Graham was appointed by South Carolina's governor to finish his term. President Donald Trump urged her to run for a full term.

Graham's inexperience and party split

Darline Graham had never held elected office. In a debate over Taiwan and the South China Sea, she said I'm not that informed on national security. This sparked backlash from her own party.

“I'm not that informed on national security”

Republican primary divided the party

No candidate earned enough votes in August's special Republican primary. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman advanced to a runoff, which Graham won by less than five points. Norman declined to campaign for her.

Andrews ran strong campaign with backing

Andrews won the Democratic primary by double digits in June. She secured bipartisan endorsements from two former governors, one Democrat and one Republican. She also had strong fundraising while Graham's campaign struggled.

First woman elected to South Carolina Senate

Andrews makes history as the first woman from South Carolina elected to the upper chamber. Though Darline Graham currently serves in the Senate, she was appointed, not elected to the role.