Democrat Annie Andrews Wins South Carolina Senate Seat After Defeating Appointed Incumbent Darline Graham
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Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, secured South Carolina's first Democratic Senate seat in over two decades, defeating appointed Republican Darline Graham, who had been named to fill her late brother's vacancy.
Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, won South Carolina's Senate race, becoming the state's first Democratic senator in more than 20 years, according to NBC News projections. Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham, who had been appointed by Governor Henry McMaster in July to fill the seat left vacant by the death of her brother, longtime Senator Lindsey Graham.
Graham, a former state government administrator, entered the race for a full term but faced criticism for limited policy knowledge, acknowledging in a debate that she was "not that informed on national security." Despite winning the Republican nomination, her campaign raised about $90,000 and spent $65,000, far less than Andrews' campaign, which raised over $4 million and spent $4.6 million in the final two weeks.
Outside spending also intensified, with the Senate Leadership Fund, a GOP super PAC, contributing $13 million to support Graham, while the Senate Majority PAC, aligned with Democratic leadership, announced a $750,000 digital advertising purchase for Andrews.
During a recent debate, Graham accused Andrews of unwillingness to "stand up to socialist Democrats," and Andrews responded that Graham acted as a "rubber stamp" for President Donald Trump's agenda. Andrews, who has previously advised the gun-control group Everytown, affirmed her support for the Second Amendment.
Graham broke with President Trump on a recent policy issue, stating she would "put pressure on Russia to end the war and get gas prices down" because she does not trust Putin or Russia. President Trump was scheduled to appear at a campaign event for Graham in the state.