Annie Andrews Upsets Darline Graham to Take South Carolina Senate Seat
The pediatrician becomes the first woman and first Democrat since 1998 to win the seat, a key gain for Senate control.
By Chioma Kuznetsov ·
South Carolina’s Senate race has concluded with a decisive shift in the state’s legislative representation. The Associated Press called the race for Democrat Annie Andrews on Monday. She defeated Republican incumbent Darline Graham in a result that reverses decades of local history.
Andrews, a practicing pediatrician, is the first woman to win a Senate election in the state. She is also the first Democrat elected to the seat since 1998. This victory marks a notable deviation from the state's recent voting patterns.
Graham secured the seat in July following the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham. She served as a consistent ally to President Trump during the final months of the term. Her votes helped block Democratic attempts to limit presidential war powers and supported the confirmation of Todd Blanche as Attorney General.
The election took place against a backdrop of declining support for the White House. Trump’s approval ratings fell to record lows in the weeks leading up to the midterms. Voters cited opposition to the war in Iran, tariff policies, and high energy costs as primary drivers of that shift.
Andrews centered her campaign on economic pressures facing families. She pledged to end tax breaks for the wealthy, raise wages, and expand affordable child care options. She pointed to her medical career as the reason she entered politics, specifically the financial stress her patients faced.
“No parent in America should have to be thinking about their pocketbook when they’re hearing news that their child has a chronic illness,” Andrews said in a recent interview. She described explaining treatment plans for asthma and diabetes while parents worried about the cost of insulin and inhalers.
This win is essential for Democrats seeking a majority in the Senate. The party needs a net gain of four seats to take control. The favorable conditions that helped former Governor Roy Cooper win in North Carolina also expanded the competitive map to include South Carolina, Kansas, and Texas.
