“A Monumental Upset”: Annie Andrews Flips South Carolina Senate Seat
In a closely watched race, South Carolina voters delivered the biggest upset of Election Night so far and elected a Democrat to the Senate for the first time since 1998. Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and mother of three, flipped this seat blue and defeated political neophyte Darline Graham, the sister of late Sen. Lindsey […]
In a surprising turn of events on Election Night, South Carolina's Democratic voters elected Dr. Annie Andrews to the Senate, marking the first time the state has sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1998. The win came as a result of a shocking upset against the seemingly unbeatable incumbent, Darline Graham, sister of former South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.
Graham, who had entered the race as a reluctant candidate backed by President Trump, was defeated by a margin of 4.1 percentage points. Earlier in the year, Andrews had attempted unsuccessfully to claim a seat in the House, which further fueled her momentum in the Senate race. Her opponent, Graham, had received significant financial backing from Republican Senate PACs, but this did not seem to sway South Carolina voters.
The race had been seen as a test of Trump's influence over GOP candidates, as his approval rating was at a historic low. However, voters in South Carolina defied expectations and chose independence, sending a clear message to the Trump administration.
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