Democrat Annie Andrews is projected to win South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, marking the first time in nearly three decades that a Democratic candidate has won a Senate seat in the state. According to projections by CBS News, the BBC’s American partner, the former paediatrician secured a notable victory over Republican candidate Darline Graham in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The result represents a major political shift in a state where Donald Trump won by 18 percentage points during the 2024 presidential election. The Senate victory ends a 28-year Democratic drought in South Carolina.
Background of the Candidates
Darline Graham was appointed to the Senate seat in July following the sudden death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, who had served in the upper chamber since 2002 and was a prominent voice on foreign policy and military intervention. Her appointment received backing from President Trump.
During her primary campaign, Graham, who was new to political office, publicly acknowledged her relative lack of experience in national security affairs. Following a debate question regarding U.S. policy toward Taiwan, she stated that national security was not her area of expertise, though she expressed support for the military.
Andrews ran her campaign as a political challenger against Graham, ultimately overcoming the state’s recent history of strong Republican performance to claim the seat.
Source: BBC News
