Democrat Annie Andrews has defeated Republican Darline Graham in South Carolina for the U.S. Senate seat, a result projected by NBC News and CNN by 10 PM Eastern and called by The Associated Press at 10:45 PM. Andrews secured 51 percent of the vote compared to Graham's 47 percent with 86 percent of precincts reporting.
Andrews' victory is significant as she becomes the first Democrat to win a South Carolina Senate seat in 28 years and the first woman elected to represent the state in the chamber. The race was seen as a setback for former President Donald Trump, who had endorsed Graham and campaigned for her multiple times, including twice in the final weeks of the election. Trump carried South Carolina by 18 points two years prior.
Graham's campaign was hampered by several perceived missteps. She admitted to lacking expertise in foreign policy and questioned her own desire to be a senator. During a Republican primary debate, Graham struggled to answer a question about Taiwan and the South China Sea, stating, "National security is not my thing." Andrews, who has never held elected office herself, used these statements to question Graham's fitness for the role.
Andrews, who previously challenged Representative Nancy Mace in 2022, focused her campaign on affordability and economic issues, while framing Graham as a candidate favored by Washington insiders. She also addressed concerns about her own political leanings by supporting gun rights, border security, and tax reductions for the middle class. The contest attracted significant national Republican funding, with the party investing $5 million to support Graham, particularly as the race grew tighter.
Despite the race being considered a safe Republican seat, Andrews found strong support in rural counties. The candidates also engaged in disputes over Graham's use of her maiden name during the campaign, which Andrews suggested was a recent change. Graham countered that she retained the name to feel connected to her parents, whom she lost at a young age.