Democrat Annie Andrews has achieved a historic victory in South Carolina’s Senate race, defeating GOP Sen. Darlene Graham. The Associated Press announced this result after Graham’s appointment following the death of her brother, longtime Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Andrews, a pediatrician, becomes the first woman to win a Senate election in South Carolina and the first Democratic senator elected in the state since 1998. Her win marks a significant upset in a state that President Trump won by nearly 18 points in the 2024 election. This is a crucial gain for Democrats aiming to regain Senate control.
Throughout her campaign, Andrews emphasized affordability issues. She pledged to combat tax breaks for the wealthy, raise wages, and advocate for affordable childcare. With her medical background, Andrews highlighted her encounters with patients facing financial barriers to healthcare as a motivation for entering politics.
Reflecting on her career, Andrews shared her experience diagnosing children with chronic diseases like asthma and diabetes. She often encountered parents concerned about the cost of treatments, stating, “No parent in America should have to be thinking about their pocketbook when they’re hearing news that their child has a chronic illness.”
Andrews’s victory plays a pivotal role in Democrats’ ambition to flip Senate control. Democrats need to secure four more seats to obtain the majority. A competitive political environment supported Democratic wins in battleground states such as North Carolina, where Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper won a key Senate race, and expanded opportunities in traditionally Republican states like South Carolina, Kansas, and Texas.
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