Andrews Defeats Trump-Backed Graham in South Carolina Senate Race

Andrews, a pediatrician, won the South Carolina Senate seat held for years by Graham’s late brother, Lindsey Graham. With 93% of votes counted, she had 50.6% to Darline Graham’s 47.2% in the reported tally.

Trump’s Pick Loses as South Carolina Voters Reject Graham Dynasty

South Carolina voters rejected President Donald Trump’s choice for the Senate, handing Democrat Annie Andrews a win over Darline Graham, sister of the late senator Lindsey Graham. With 93% of votes counted, Andrews led 50.6% to 47.2%. The result ended the prospect of another Senator Graham and frustrated Trump’s bid to turn his personal endorsement into a political inheritance.

Trump backed Darline Graham before she had decided to run, campaigned alongside her and urged voters to support her. Her limited political experience became a liability during the race, including in a debate where she struggled with a national security question.

Andrews, a pediatrician, ran on positions including restoring Roe v. Wade and expanding Medicaid and Medicare. Her victory came after polling had shown Graham with a small advantage in the final weeks.

The outcome exposed the risk of placing loyalty and a famous surname ahead of a candidate’s preparation for office. Trump’s support could not make Graham’s candidacy stronger, and South Carolina voters chose Andrews instead.

South Carolina Elects Democrat Who Promises to Restore Roe

Democrat Annie Andrews won South Carolina’s Senate race, defeating Republican Darline Graham and taking a seat long held by Graham’s late brother, Lindsey. With 93% of votes counted, Andrews had 50.6% of the vote to Graham’s 47.2%.

The victory puts a candidate who supports restoring Roe v. Wade and expanding Medicaid and Medicare into the Senate. Andrews also campaigned on keeping families together and ensuring due process in immigration matters. Those commitments make the result consequential beyond the contest between two candidates.

President Donald Trump backed Graham and appeared with her at a rally. Graham had only entered the race after a fast-tracked special election and won the Republican primary runoff. Despite a narrow polling edge in the final weeks, she could not hold the seat.

Graham’s campaign faced questions about her experience and her answers on policy, while Andrews had previously run unsuccessfully for the House in South Carolina. The election now sends Andrews to Washington with a platform that would expand federal health programs and reverse the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe.