Overview
- Annie Andrews defeated Darline Graham on Election Night, flipping the South Carolina U.S. Senate seat that opened after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s July death.
- Darline Graham had been appointed to her brother’s seat and won the Republican primary but struggled on the campaign trail after a primary debate admission that she was not well informed on national security.
- President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Darline Graham and repeatedly attacked Andrews, drawing national attention and heavy outside spending including a late $5 million infusion reported from the Senate Leadership Fund.
- Late polls showed a dead-heat with independents leaning toward Andrews, and vote returns on Tuesday showed some ticket-splitting where voters backed a Republican governor while choosing Andrews for Senate.
- Andrews becomes the first Democrat elected to a South Carolina Senate seat since Fritz Hollings, a shift that could reshape expectations for competitive Senate contests in traditionally red states.