Annie Andrews Wins South Carolina Senate Race, Defeating Darline Graham in a Major Upset

Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, flipping a seat in a state President Donald Trump carried by more than 17 points in 2024. NBC News projected the win shortly before 10 p.m. ET, and CBS News also projected Andrews the winner. Graham conceded later Tuesday night.

The seat had belonged to Graham’s brother, longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly in July. The upset was one of the seven Senate pickups that gave Democrats control of the chamber.

Did Annie Andrews win?

Yes. Andrews will be South Carolina’s first Democratic senator in more than 20 years, NBC News reported. CBS News noted the state hadn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998. Andrews is also the first woman elected to the seat, according to Graham’s concession remarks reported by WLTX.

Darline Graham concedes

Speaking in Columbia, Graham said she had called Andrews to congratulate her and wished her and her family well “as our next U.S. senator,” WLTX reported.

“As you all know, this has been a very difficult few months. I would trade this all 1,000 times over to have my brother back, but God had a different plan.”

She added: “Tonight was not the result any of us wanted in this room or around the country, but we cannot exit the fight. It is clear that we as conservatives have work to do, and that work starts tonight.” Graham said she was proud to be South Carolina’s first female U.S. senator and thanked Trump.

How Darline Graham got the seat

Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham, a former state administrator, to the Senate in July after Lindsey Graham, a five-term senator, died of a heart problem, NBC News reported. CBS News said Graham, 62, most recently led the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. She then won a special Republican primary and runoff to run for a full six-year term.

Her campaign drew criticism after she said in a primary debate that she was “not that informed on national security,” according to NBC and CBS. Last month she also broke with Trump after he moved to waive Russia sanctions under a law named for her brother, telling reporters, “I don’t trust Putin, and I don’t trust Russia.”

Who is Annie Andrews?

Andrews, 45, is a Charleston pediatrician and former professor of pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina, WJCL reported. Born in Kentucky and raised in Indiana, she moved to the Lowcountry in 2009. She has said the 2018 Parkland school shooting drew her into politics and to Moms Demand Action. She lost a 2022 challenge to Rep. Nancy Mace.

She campaigned on health care access, affordability, public schools, abortion rights and fighting corruption in Washington, according to CBS and WJCL.

Money and Trump’s role

• Fundraising: In the final pre-election period, Andrews raised more than $4 million and spent over $4.6 million in two weeks, while Graham’s campaign raised about $90,000, NBC reported.
• Outside spending: NBC said the Senate Leadership Fund, the main GOP super PAC, spent $13 million to boost Graham. CBS described a $5 million investment from the group in October. The two figures may reflect different time frames.
• Trump’s push: Trump encouraged Graham to run and campaigned heavily for her, and his MAGA Inc. super PAC gave her $827,000 in August, CBS reported.

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