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Annie Andrews wins South Carolina 2026 Senate election, flipping seat for Democrats
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Democrat Annie Andrews won the South Carolina Senate race, defeating GOP incumbent Darline Graham in a significant upset, according to CBS News projections.
- Andrews, a pediatrician, campaigned on expanding healthcare access, affordability, and fighting corruption, while Graham was appointed to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's seat and had limited national security knowledge.
- South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998, and the state leaned heavily Republican in 2024, making Andrews' victory unexpected.
- Despite substantial financial support for Graham from Republican super PACs and former President Trump’s personal campaigning, the GOP efforts were insufficient amid broader challenges for Republicans.
- Andrews' win represents an important Democratic pickup as the party aims to flip control of the Senate.
