Pediatrician Annie Andrews defeated appointed Republican Sen. Darline Graham on Tuesday to capture a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina, securing an unexpected triumph in a solidly red state, Fox News and the New York Post reported.
Andrews became the first Democrat to win a Palmetto State U.S. Senate contest since 1998, snapping nearly three decades of Republican dominance in statewide federal elections. The specific seat, occupied by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and formerly by Strom Thurmond, had not been held by a Democrat since 1964, Rolling Stone reported.
Graham, 62, was appointed to the post by Gov. Henry McMaster after her brother died suddenly on July 11 at age 71. Her selection made her the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. Prior to her appointment, Graham had worked in state government positions for almost 30 years, most recently directing the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
A Focus on Healthcare and Cost of Living
Andrews, a 45-year-old physician, launched her bid in 2025 and continued her campaign following Lindsey Graham’s death. She told Rolling Stone that she was originally spurred to run after President Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, calling Kennedy her “professional arch-nemesis.”
Throughout the general election, Andrews emphasized healthcare affordability and household economic pressures over national partisan rhetoric. In an interview with Fox News Digital, she cited two decades of clinical work and said she observed the direct effects of “broken policies coming from Washington” in hospital rooms.
Andrews also campaigned on issues affecting rural towns, criticizing the rapid expansion of large technological facilities. She told Rolling Stone that voters across party lines opposed “unchecked data center development” that arrived without sufficient transparency regarding local environmental and financial consequences.
Trump Endorsement Falls Short
Graham campaigned on traditional conservative priorities, including opposition to abortion, gun rights, and strict border enforcement. She emphasized her background outside the political establishment, declaring during an August primary debate with Rep. Ralph Norman that “national security is not my thing,” according to the New York Post. While Graham backed Trump’s agenda, she did diverge from the former president on foreign policy, stating she disagreed with his decision to waive sanctions against Russia because she did not trust Vladimir Putin.
Trump carried South Carolina by roughly 18 percentage points in 2024 and personally endorsed Graham, helping her win an August runoff primary. Trump also traveled to the state to campaign with her in the closing weeks, declaring at an Oct. 21 rally that Graham would “never let you down,” Fox News reported. Outside Republican organizations also directed millions of dollars into the state as internal polling tightened.
After the race was called Tuesday night, Andrews released a statement praising South Carolina voters for showing they “will chart our own course” despite partisan divisions and outside money, Rolling Stone reported. Andrews will take office in January for a full six-year term, while Graham’s appointed service concludes at the end of the year.
