Annie Andrews Wins South Carolina Senate Race, AP Projects

Andrews projected to win Senate seat

November 3, 2026 · 10:50 p.m. Eastern

Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews has won South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, defeating appointed Republican Sen. Darline Graham, the Associated Press projects. The result would turn a Republican-held seat over to Democrats in a state that last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 1998.

The Daily Beast also reported that Andrews defeated Graham. The result is a news organization’s projection, not an official certification; state election officials will continue counting and reviewing ballots.

At 10:37 p.m. Eastern, Decision Desk HQ’s preliminary tally showed Andrews with 50.72% of counted votes and Graham with 47.32%, with an estimated 89% reported. Those figures can change as more votes are counted.

Why the result matters

Graham was appointed to the seat after her brother, longtime Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, died in July. She was running for a full six-year term; Andrews had begun her campaign when Lindsey Graham was still seeking reelection, AP reported before Election Day.

If the result holds, Andrews would be the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina. Darline Graham is currently serving in the chamber by appointment. The last Democrat elected to a South Carolina Senate seat was Fritz Hollings, in 1998, according to AP.

The outcome is a projected Democratic pickup, but it alone does not establish which party will control the next Senate. Other races remain consequential.

How the race took shape

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham after her brother’s death. She won a special Republican primary runoff in August and had President Donald Trump’s support, AP reported.

Andrews, a pediatrician and former congressional candidate, had won the Democratic nomination in June. During their Senate debate, Graham criticized Andrews’s political positions, while Andrews questioned Graham’s readiness for a full term, The Hill reported.

Where the race was held

The Senate contest was statewide. The star marks the approximate Columbia area, South Carolina’s capital, for geographic context; it does not identify a polling place.

Key dates

1. June 9, 2026 — Andrews won the Democratic Senate primary.
2. July 2026 — Lindsey Graham died, and McMaster appointed Darline Graham to his Senate seat.
3. August 25, 2026 — Darline Graham won the Republican nomination in a special primary runoff.
4. November 3, 2026 — South Carolinians voted, and AP called the race for Andrews.

Sources and visual credits

Associated Press: race call · Decision Desk HQ: election-night count · The Daily Beast: election report · AP via ABC News: campaign background · AP: Republican runoff · The Hill via Yahoo: debate.

Visual: conceptual paper-cut ballot, palmetto and capitol illustration, not a photograph of an election event. Map data: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.