The pediatrician's victory marks the first Democratic Senate win in the state since 1998, while also making her the first woman elected to the chamber from South Carolina. Andrews ran an affordability-centered campaign shaped by her medical background, arguing that families routinely struggle to pay for essential treatments for asthma and diabetes. Her opponent, appointed in July following the death of her brother Lindsey Graham, was hindered by alignment with President Trump's deeply unpopular foreign and economic agenda. Alongside a victory by former Governor Roy Cooper in North Carolina, the result expands the competitive midterm map into traditionally conservative territory.
Key points
Andrews centered her successful campaign on pocketbook issues, including affordable child…: Andrews centered her successful campaign on pocketbook issues, including affordable child care, wage increases, and medical costs for illnesses like diabetes.
Graham struggled against political headwinds tied to Donald Trump's record-low approval r…: Graham struggled against political headwinds tied to Donald Trump's record-low approval ratings, driven by high energy prices, tariffs, and the war in Iran.
The South Carolina upset widens the Democratic Senate target map into historically red st…: The South Carolina upset widens the Democratic Senate target map into historically red states, alongside other competitive races in Kansas and Texas.
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Democrat Annie Andrews has defeated GOP Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina's Senate race, according to a race call by the Associated Press.
Andrews, a pediatrician, becomes the first woman to win a Senate election in South Carolina, and the first Democratic Senator elected in the state since 1998. It's a stunning upset in a state that President Trump won by nearly 18 points in 2024, and a critical pickup for Democrats hoping to regain control of the Senate.
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Graham was appointed to the seat after the death of her brother, longtime Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, in July. She was a key vote for Trump in recent months, fighting Democratic efforts to reign in Trump's war powers and confirming Todd Blanche as Attorney General.
However, she faced a tough political landscape for Republicans, as Trump's approval ratings hit record lows in the weeks before the midterms, driven largely by opposition to the war in…
The historic flip in the Lone Star State arrived alongside an upset defeat of Governor Greg Abbott, securing full congressional control for Democrats. Grounding his platform in his religious background, the former educator focused on everyday affordability to overcome a deeply funded conservative apparatus. Widespread voter fatigue regarding consumer prices and foreign conflict ultimately unseated the scandal-plagued Republican establishment.
The flipping of six Republican-held Senate seats hands the upper chamber's majority back to Democrats, dealing a direct blow to Donald Trump's political agenda. Voters repudiated the president amid mounting frustration over tariff-related price increases and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. This shift terminates two years of unified Republican congressional control, allowing the new legislative majority to stall judicial appointments and scrutinize the executive branch.
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