Democrat Annie Andrews has defeated Republican Darline Graham in the South Carolina Senate race, ending the party’s 28-year absence from winning a Senate seat in the state.
The Associated Press declared Andrews the winner at 10:45 p.m., with 86 per cent of votes counted. She had secured 51 per cent of the vote against Graham’s 47 per cent.
The result also makes Andrews the first woman elected to represent South Carolina in the US Senate.
Graham had been selected by President Donald Trump to contest the seat following the sudden death of her brother, longtime Senator Lindsey Graham, in July.
Trump’s Endorsement Fails to Secure Republican Victory
Trump personally backed Graham’s campaign, making several appearances to support her candidacy.
The president campaigned for her during the Republican primary runoff and returned to South Carolina twice in the final weeks before election day.
The Republican Party also committed $5 million to strengthen Graham’s campaign as the contest became increasingly competitive in a state traditionally considered a safe Republican stronghold.
Trump had carried South Carolina by 18 percentage points just two years earlier, but his endorsement and campaign appearances were insufficient to prevent Andrews from winning.
Graham’s Campaign Faces Questions Over Experience
Graham’s lack of experience in elected office became a major issue throughout the campaign, with several public remarks raising questions about her readiness for the Senate.
During the campaign, she acknowledged that foreign policy was not an area of expertise and expressed uncertainty about whether she wanted to become a senator.
At a Republican primary debate, Graham struggled to respond to a question concerning Taiwan and the South China Sea before admitting, “National security is not my thing.”
Andrews repeatedly used the admission to challenge her opponent’s suitability for a six-year Senate term.
Andrews Questions Opponent’s Qualifications
During an October 11 debate, Andrews compared Graham’s admission about national security to a surgeon expressing a lack of expertise in performing a medical procedure.
“If your surgeon said that appendectomies aren’t really his thing, would you still hand him a scalpel? No,” Andrews said.
She added: “So why would we hand Darline Graham a full term in the US Senate? She is unserious and unqualified.”
Andrews, who had previously challenged Representative Nancy Mace unsuccessfully in 2022, had also never held elected office before the Senate contest.
Affordability and Economic Issues Feature in Andrews’ Campaign
Andrews centred her campaign on the cost of living and economic concerns, while presenting Graham as the preferred candidate of Washington political insiders.
She also addressed Republican criticism that her political positions were too liberal for South Carolina voters.
To counter those attacks, Andrews criticised both major parties over their handling of immigration and highlighted her support for gun rights, border security and lower taxes for middle-class Americans.
Her campaign ultimately secured strong performances in rural counties traditionally associated with Republican support, contributing to her victory.
Candidates Clash Over Graham’s Surname
The campaign also featured a dispute over Graham’s decision to run without using her married surname, Nordone.
Andrews questioned whether her opponent had recently changed her name, an allegation Graham rejected.
“My legal name is Graham and has always been Graham,” she said.
Explaining her decision to retain the surname, Graham said she had lost her parents as a young girl and kept their family name to maintain a connection with them.
Republican Losses Deepen Trump’s Election Setback
Graham’s defeat came during a difficult election night for Republicans, who also lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Following the results, Trump argued that Republicans would have achieved a landslide victory if he had personally appeared on the ballot.
The president also appeared to place responsibility for the disappointing results on the Republican candidates themselves.
