Democrat Annie Andrews upset Trump-endorsed Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) in Tuesday's midterm elections, flipping a Senate seat Republicans haven't lost in decades and dealing a stunning blow to the president and his party.
Andrews, a pediatrician and political newcomer, overcame a Republican campaign that leaned heavily on Trump's endorsement and Graham's promise to carry on her late brother's legacy. Decision Desk HQ called the race around 10:00 p.m., with Andrews winning approximately 51% of the vote to Graham's 47%, with 84% of ballots counted.
Graham's defeat is a shocking loss for the Republican Party, ending a nearly three-decade winning streak and demonstrating the lack of confidence voters had in a candidate with no prior political experience who made several viral flubs.
Leading up to the election, Trump repeatedly stumped for Graham, including an October 29 rally in Rock Hill. He criticized Andrews for past support for transgender youth, a stance she flip-flopped on during the Senate campaign.
NOW: President Trump blasts South Carolina Senate candidate Annie Andrews over transgender surgeries and puberty blockers for minors, accusing her of advocating taxpayer-funded gender-transition procedures for children.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 29, 2026
"She's too crazy, too dangerous, and too radical to serve… pic.twitter.com/dVGVoEN4Nf
My radical liberal opponent is batsh*t crazy. pic.twitter.com/wvFd2qXJ5k
— Darline Graham (@DarlineGrahamSC) October 29, 2026
But voters disagreed. Despite Trump's intervention, Graham struggled to overcome concerns about her inexperience and readiness for the Senate. She also failed to close the deal with Republican voters who backed Rep. Ralph Norman, the conservative congressman who performed strongly in the upstate during a contentious primary fight. Norman did not hide his feelings about Trump putting his thumb on the scale. In the end, he refused to toe the party line, and members of his family reportedly pulled the lever for Andrews.
"The voters in South Carolina are not buying the argument that everyone has to 'settle' for a candidate that has been propped up by special interest groups and a Republican president spending millions of dollars spreading false narratives about why Darline Graham is qualified to be elected to the U.S. Senate for the next six years!!" Norman told CNN's Manu Raju.
Those concerns came into sharp focus during a viral debate-night exchange in which Graham acknowledged she was "not that informed on national security."
"I'm just going to be honest here, I'm not that informed on national security," Graham said when asked whether Taiwan and the South China Sea were national security issues for the United States.
Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States’ national security. Darline Graham admits she’s not. This is not something you inherit. And it’s critical in the U.S. Senate. pic.twitter.com/jOaewpWvrU
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) August 19, 2026
In the final days of the campaign, Graham flubbed again, suggesting in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that she didn't actually want to be involved in politics.
Graham sought to distinguish herself from her brother on foreign policy, saying in a July interview that she preferred to focus on issues affecting "the average person." But her national security flub became a defining campaign moment. Andrews, meanwhile, presented herself as a moderate alternative, framing her GOP rival as an establishment-backed empty suit who will do what she's told in Washington.
Graham entered the race following the unexpected death of her brother, longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham, who had represented South Carolina in the Senate since 2003. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her in July to serve out the remainder of his term.
President Trump quickly endorsed Graham after her appointment, encouraging her to enter the race with the message, "RUN, DARLINE, RUN!" Her candidacy became a test of the power of Trump's endorsement, which proved vital in the primary.
Graham secured the Republican nomination by defeating Norman in a runoff, winning approximately 53% of the vote. Norman had received endorsements from conservative Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Lee (R-UT), as well as several Upstate sheriffs. Graham, on the other hand, emphasized her pro-life beliefs and opposition to biological men competing in women's sports, and vowed to focus on domestic issues.
Lindsey Graham died unexpectedly at his Capitol Hill home over the summer. The medical examiner's office reportedly believes the cause was an aortic dissection. Before collapsing, he had reportedly told a staffer he was experiencing chest pain. He had won his Republican primary in June before his death abruptly transformed the race.
Ryan Girdusky, a conservative political consultant, previously suggested Trump had moved quickly to support Graham in the aftermath of her brother's death.
"I think that the president was really in a state of grief. He loved Lindsey Graham," Girdusky told The Daily Wire. "And he picked her, you know, very, very, very quickly."
Create a free account to join the conversation!
Already have an account?
Log inSource link
