Democrat Annie Andrews wins South Carolina Senate seat in major upset

Democrat Annie Andrews won the South Carolina U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican incumbent Darline Graham, according to CBS News and PBS NewsHour. Andrews' victory is notable as South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998 and was won by President Donald Trump by 18 points in 2024.

Andrews, a pediatrician, campaigned on healthcare access, affordability, and fighting corruption in Washington, CBS News reported. Graham was appointed to the seat after the death of her brother, former Senator Lindsey Graham, and won a special primary to run for a full term.

The race attracted significant Republican support, including $5 million from the Senate Leadership Fund and $827,000 from MAGA Inc., a super PAC controlled by Trump, who also campaigned for Graham, NBC News and CBS News noted. Despite these efforts, Andrews maintained an early lead and ultimately won the seat.

PBS NewsHour described Andrews' victory as a stark defeat for the Republican Party in a state President Trump won three times by double digits. The Associated Press declared Andrews the winner at 10:39 p.m. EST on election night.

This win contributes to the Democrats securing a Senate majority, as reported by CBS News. Andrews had previously run unsuccessfully for the U.S. House, making this Senate victory a significant political achievement.