Democrat Annie Andrews wins South Carolina Senate race

Dr. Annie Andrews, a Democratic pediatrician and political newcomer, shocked observers by defeating Republican Sen. Darline Graham to win a six-year term representing South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. This upset occurred on November 4, 2026, marking a rare Democratic victory in a state that has traditionally elected Republican senators since the early 21st century.

Graham was appointed by the governor to finish her late brother Lindsey Graham's term after his death in July and faced significant challenges from supporters of U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman on the right, who were unhappy with President Trump’s intervention in the race. Prior to Graham's appointment, South Carolina's Senate race was expected to be straightforward for the Republican candidate due to the state's historically strong Republican voter base.

Recent polls indicated a tight contest between Graham and Andrews, with likely voters nearly evenly split. However, after spending over $5 million on advertising early in the campaign, Andrews managed to capitalize on disaffection among independent voters and certain factions of Republicans who saw Graham as an underqualified placeholder candidate.

This victory marks only the second time since 1938 that a practicing physician has been elected to the Senate as a Democrat. It also signals a broader shift in voter sentiment, suggesting dissatisfaction with current political leadership on both sides.