Andrews Wins South Carolina Senate Seat
Democrat Annie Andrews defeats Republican Darline Graham, the Trump-appointed replacement for her late brother Lindsey Graham.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Annie Andrews, a 45-year-old pediatrician, won the South Carolina U.S. Senate race over Republican Darline Graham. Andrews is the first Democrat to win a South Carolina Senate seat in 28 years and the first woman to win a U.S. Senate election in the state.
Why it matters
The result breaks a long stretch of Republican control of the state's Senate seat in a state Trump carried by 18 points in the prior presidential election. It also follows the sudden death of Lindsey Graham in July 2026, with Graham's replacement having never held elected office before.
Andrews took 51.1 percent of the vote to Graham's 46.7 percent, a margin that contrasts with Trump's 18-point win in South Carolina in the last presidential election. Campaign fundraising was lopsided, with Andrews raising $4.2 million against Graham's $570,000.
The players
Annie Andrews
Annie Andrews is a 45-year-old pediatrician and Democrat who won the South Carolina U.S. Senate seat.
Darline Graham
Darline Graham is a 62-year-old Republican who was handpicked by Trump to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham and had never held elected office before.
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert is a 62-year-old comedian and television host who celebrated Andrews' win on Instagram with a South Carolina flag image.
The details
Graham was criticized for assuming victory and not campaigning enough, while Andrews' campaign raised substantially more money. The race drew attention for Stephen Colbert, who posted a South Carolina flag image on Instagram celebrating Andrews' win.
Timeline
July 2026: Lindsey Graham died suddenly, prompting Trump to appoint Darline Graham to the seat.
November 4, 2026: Andrews defeated Darline Graham in the South Carolina Senate race.
Political Context
The result stands in contrast to Trump's 18-point win in South Carolina in the last presidential election. It marks the first Democratic win for a South Carolina Senate seat in 28 years.
Andrews takes a South Carolina Senate seat that has been held by Republicans for nearly three decades, changing the state's congressional representation. Voters across the state now have a Democratic senator for the first time since the prior Democratic win 28 years ago.
The takeaway
The race shows that a candidate's campaign effort and fundraising can matter even in a state with a strong partisan lean. Readers following South Carolina politics can track how the new seat's representation shapes state priorities.
Further reading
For more on the state's voting landscape, see South Carolina Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Beast.
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