Annie Andrews wins South Carolina Senate seat, flipping it to Democrats
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Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina's 2026 Senate race, giving Democrats a crucial pickup in a chamber long shaped by conservative power and big-money influence.
Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina’s 2026 Senate race, according to CBS News projections, handing Democrats a hard-fought gain in a state where entrenched Republican politics and wealthy outside spending have long dominated. Andrews, a 45-year-old pediatrician, built her campaign around expanding health-care access, lowering costs and confronting corruption in Washington, themes that resonated with voters weary of a system that often puts corporate interests ahead of working families. Graham, 62, had been appointed to fill the seat after her brother Lindsey Graham’s death and won a special primary to run for a full term.
Andrews drew attention to Graham’s limited experience, pointing to a remark the incumbent made during the primary that she was “not that informed on national security.” The race also became a showcase for the Republican machine’s reliance on massive outside money, including a $5 million contribution from the Senate Leadership Fund in October and $827,000 from MAGA Inc., a super PAC controlled by Mr. Trump, which also saw the president campaign for Graham.
Even with that flood of Republican investment, Andrews prevailed, delivering Democrats an unexpected pickup as they push to flip control of the Senate and challenge a political order that has long favored the wealthy and well-connected.
"We need to ensure that every family can afford quality health care," Andrews said during her campaign.
"South Carolinians deserve a senator with a deep understanding of national security," Graham responded in a post-primary interview.