Democrat Annie Andrews Projected to Beat Appointed GOP Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina

Democrat Annie Andrews was projected the winner of South Carolina's U.S. Senate race around 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican Sen. Darline Graham. NBC News, CBS News, ABC News and the Fox News Decision Desk all made the call.

Andrews, a 45-year-old pediatrician, will be the first Democrat the state has sent to the Senate since Fritz Hollings won in 1998. President Donald Trump carried South Carolina by roughly 18 points in 2024.

With 84% of ballots counted when Decision Desk HQ called it, Andrews led about 51% to 47%. The count was not final as of this morning, Wednesday, Nov. 4.

How Graham got on the ballot

Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham in July after her brother, five-term Sen. Lindsey Graham, died suddenly of a heart problem. She was 62 and had most recently served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. She had never run for office.

Trump encouraged her to seek a full six-year term. She won the GOP nomination in a bruising primary and runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman, with Trump's backing doing much of the work.

The campaign was rocky from there. In a debate, asked whether Taiwan and the South China Sea are U.S. national security interests, Graham said: "I'm just going to be honest here, I'm not that informed on national security." Former Gov. Nikki Haley responded: "Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States' national security. Graham admits she's not. This is not something you inherit."

Graham's response at the time was that she is unafraid to say when she does not know something. She also said she was "just as qualified" as Andrews.

Norman did not fall in line. He told CNN's Manu Raju that South Carolina voters were "not buying the argument that everyone has to 'settle'" for a candidate propped up by special interests and a Republican president.

Graham also broke with Trump in October, after he said he would waive sanctions on Russia and bypass a new law named for her brother. "Personally, I would choose to put the pressure on Russia to end the war and get gas prices down," she told reporters.

The money and the map

The race was never rated a toss-up. The Cook Political Report moved it from "solidly" to "likely" Republican in September. The RealClearPolitics average had Graham ahead by 2.8 points heading into Election Day.

Andrews far outspent her. In the final pre-election reporting period she raised more than $4 million, mostly online, and spent over $4.6 million in two weeks. Graham's campaign raised about $90,000 and spent $65,000.

Republican outside groups filled the gap. The Senate Leadership Fund spent heavily, with NBC News putting its total at $13 million and CBS News citing a $5 million investment in October. MAGA Inc., the Trump-controlled super PAC, gave Graham $827,000 in August. Senate Majority PAC announced a last-minute $750,000 digital buy for Andrews.

Trump held two rallies in the state: Oct. 21 at Clemson University in Pendleton and Oct. 29 in Rock Hill. "She's smart and incredible. She'll never let you down," he said of Graham. Of Andrews, he said: "She's too crazy, too dangerous, and too radical to serve in the United States Senate."

Democratic strategist Mally Smith told Fox News Digital that "President Trump tried to hand-pick his successor in South Carolina, and the voters emphatically rejected his choice."

What Andrews ran on

Andrews campaigned on health care access and affordability, a public option, ending tax breaks for the wealthy, expanded child care, paid family leave and fighting corruption in Washington. "I am not a socialist," she told Forbes. "I am running to be a pragmatic problem-solver."

Graham's attacks went at her record. She noted Andrews has been a senior adviser to Everytown, the gun control group, even as Andrews says she supports the Second Amendment. Graham also accused Andrews of reversing herself on transgender issues, saying she "flip-flopped on everything."

Andrews told Fox News Digital she rejects biological men in women's sports and gender surgeries for minors.

Andrews lost a 2022 House race to Rep. Nancy Mace by double digits. In 2020, Democrat Jaime Harrison, who later became DNC chair, raised big money in the state and still lost to Lindsey Graham by 10 points.

National picture

ABC News projected that Democrats will take control of the Senate and the House, with wins that included Jon Ossoff in Georgia, Sherrod Brown in Ohio and James Talarico in Texas. CBS News said Andrews' win was an unexpected pickup that helped push Democrats to a Senate majority.

South Carolina also holds a new place in Democratic politics. The DNC recently made it the first state on its 2028 presidential primary calendar.

Voters interviewed by The Epoch Times gave mixed reasons. Margaret Weir, a registered Republican, said she voted for Andrews because "we just have to change the government that's in place right now." Nancy Biddlecom, who voted for Graham, said Democrats "scare me."

The final margin is still unsettled. Andrews' 4-point lead came with 16% of ballots uncounted, and the official tally has yet to be released.