Annie Andrews won South Carolina’s U.S. Senate election on Tuesday, November 3, defeating Republican Darline Graham in a result that ended decades of Republican control of the state’s Senate delegation.
The victory makes Andrews the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina since Fritz Hollings won his final term in 1998.
Andrews, a pediatrician from South Carolina’s Lowcountry, also becomes the first woman elected to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.
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Annie Andrews defeats Darline Graham
Graham had been serving as South Carolina’s interim senator since July, when she was appointed to the seat previously held by her brother, Lindsey Graham.
Lindsey Graham died earlier in 2026 after winning the Republican nomination for another Senate term.
Darline Graham later won a special Republican primary runoff and became the party’s nominee for the full six-year term.
President Donald Trump endorsed Graham and campaigned for her in South Carolina, turning the race into a major test of Republican strength in one of the party’s most reliable states.
Andrews had already secured the Democratic nomination before the Republican vacancy emerged.
She entered the general election with more than a year of campaign preparation and focused her message on the economy, health care, government accountability and the direction of the country.
A historic Democratic breakthrough
Republicans had held both South Carolina Senate seats since Democrat Ernest “Fritz” Hollings left office in 2005.
The state’s other Democratic member of Congress is Representative Jim Clyburn, who represents a reliably Democratic district in the U.S. House.
Andrews’ result therefore represents a statewide breakthrough for Democrats in a state where Republican candidates have dominated federal elections for years.
The race drew unusual attention after Lindsey Graham’s death created an unexpected opening in a seat that Republicans had considered secure.
Graham’s appointment gave Republicans an incumbent, but it also left the party with a relatively short campaign period before the November election.
Andrews had never held elected office before her Senate campaign.
She previously challenged Representative Nancy Mace in the 2022 Democratic congressional primary but remained active in South Carolina politics after that campaign.
What the result means for the Senate
The South Carolina result is part of a wider set of competitive Senate contests during the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.
Democrats also targeted Republican-held seats in other states as they sought to regain control of the chamber.
The effect of the South Carolina result on Senate control will depend on the final outcomes in several other closely contested races.
Andrews’ win nevertheless gives Democrats a symbolic victory in a state that has long been viewed as outside the party’s realistic Senate map.
It also gives the incoming senator a national platform as she prepares to represent a state with a strong Republican voting history.
What happens next
The South Carolina Election Commission will continue its post-election process before results are formally certified.
Andrews is expected to take office for the full Senate term beginning January 3, 2027.
Until then, the state’s election officials will complete canvassing, address any outstanding provisional or absentee ballots and handle any required certification procedures.
The transition will also determine how Andrews organizes her Senate office and positions herself on issues affecting South Carolina, including military installations, coastal development, health care and the state’s growing population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 South Carolina Senate election?
Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham in the November 3, 2026, election.
Why was Darline Graham serving as South Carolina’s senator?
Darline Graham was appointed to the seat after her brother, Lindsey Graham, died in 2026.
When was the last time a Democrat won a U.S. Senate election in South Carolina?
Fritz Hollings was the last Democrat elected to the Senate from South Carolina, winning his final term in 1998.
What is historic about Annie Andrews’ victory?
Andrews is the first Democrat elected to the South Carolina Senate seat in a generation and the first woman elected to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.
When will Annie Andrews begin her full Senate term?
The full Senate term is scheduled to begin on January 3, 2027, following the completion of South Carolina’s election certification process.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against the South Carolina Election Commission’s 2026 results page and official state appointment records, with current election reporting used to confirm the result and historical context. ([scvotes.gov](https://scvotes.gov/2026-general-election-results/))
Disclaimer: Election results remain subject to formal certification and any legally required canvassing or recount procedures.