A major setback for Republicans: Lindsey Graham's sister loses the Senate race to Annie Andrews, and Democrats take South Carolina
Graham was the acting senator appointed to serve out her brother, the late Lindsey Graham's, term, and had the support of President Donald Trump.
The appointment marked the first time a brother or sister had replaced a senator who had died while in office.
Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham in the South Carolina Senate election, a result that represents a major victory for Democrats in one of the traditionally Republican states. Andrews, a 45-year-old pediatrician, focused her campaign on improving access to health care, reducing health care costs, and fighting corruption in Washington. Her opponent was Graham, the incumbent senator who had been appointed to serve out the term of her brother, the late Lindsey Graham, and who had President Donald Trump's backing.
The famous senator, who in recent years had been one of the country's most prominent conservative figures, died unexpectedly in July, after representing South Carolina in the Senate since the early 2000s. His death occurred shortly after he won the Republican primary in June, in which he was seeking a fifth term in the Senate.
Following his death, Republican Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to temporarily fill the vacant seat. The appointment marked the first time a brother or sister replaced a senator who died while in office. Graham subsequently ran for the seat to serve a full term, secured Trump's endorsement, and won a closely contested Republican primary against Ralph Norman.
The defeat represents a severe setback for Republicans in a state that Trump won by nearly 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. The result also ends a long Democratic drought in South Carolina's Senate representation: the party had not won a Senate election in the state since 1998.
The setback takes on greater significance due to Trump's direct role in the race. The president backed Graham, who had taken the seat following her brother's death and was seeking to turn her temporary appointment into a full term of her own. However, that support was not enough to prevent the Democrats from winning the seat.
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